A Peach Bottom woman charged with abuse of horses and dogs – including felony cruelty – failed to appear for recent preliminary hearings at a district court in Quarryville.

Hearings regarding most of the charges against Joanna M. Fleming were held in her absence. District Judge Stuart Mylin ordered all counts of cruelty and abuse be bound over for disposition in Lancaster County Court.

Fleming, 45, faces five felonies, 10 misdemeanors and 10 summary offenses regarding animals at property on Peach Bottom Road in Fulton Township.

Fleming is presumed innocent.

The Pennsylvania SPCA filed charges and removed numerous animals from the property as an investigation showed animals in poor health due to lack of food and water and proper veterinarian care.

A horse and a puppy were euthanized due to poor health.

The Pennsylvania SPCA Humane Officer Jen Nields filed charges and testified at the preliminary hearings on Dec. 3.

Assistant District Attorney Christine L. Wilson also presented testimony from a pair of veterinarians about the condition of the animals.

Two of the hearings regarded animal abuse and cruelty, the third hearing regarded Fleming allegedly using a deceased relative’s debit card to make purchases online and at convenience stores and a pizzeria.

Fleming is also charged by Pennsylvania State Police with burglary and related offenses for allegedly entering and stealing scrap metal from a neighbor’s cabin. A hearing was not held on that case, and District Judge Mylin issued a bench warrant.

On Friday, Fleming's attorney petitioned the court for the warrant to be lifted, and that petition was granted. Fleming was ordered to report immediately to bail administration.

When charges were filed, Fleming posted combined $210,000 bail, via a bondsman, on the four dockets.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright