Hunter
09/24/26
An Iowa City woman charged with 30 counts of animal torture and neglect has agreed to a plea deal.
34-year-old Rhoda Gorvin was arrested with 32-year-old Antonio Pollard on July 2nd at their Taft Avenue residence. A warrant was executed for animal welfare concerns, and authorities found 32 dogs living with a long-term lack of sanitary conditions. The dogs had no access to food or water, and most of the dogs examined by a vet were determined to be underweight. Three had to be euthanized due to their conditions.
Both Gorvin and Pollard were charged with animal neglect, three counts of animal neglect with serious injury or death, and 22 counts of animal torture.
KCRG TV reports In the plea deal, Gorvin admitted to starving five companion dogs and neglecting three others over several months.
Prosecutors will argue for a 12-year sentence, while Gorvin’s lawyers will ask for probation and a suspended sentence. She can be released from jail with supervision ahead of her November 12th sentencing. Gorvin will not be allowed to own any animals during supervised release.
If convicted on the original charges, both Gorvin and Pollard could have been sentenced to up to 116 years in prison.
Pollard has pleaded not guilty and has a case management conference scheduled for November.