Lassen County District Attorney provides update on the case:
On August 16, 2022, our office filed a complaint against AARON LEE TIDWELL and MARY ANN ELIZABETH HOOD, formerly of Susanville, alleging 10 counts of felony animal abuse and 10 counts of misdemeanor sexual contact with an animal. Arrest warrants for both defendants were issued on August 18. Law enforcement in Jefferson County, Idaho located Tidwell and Hood on November 14, 2022 and arrested them on the warrants. The defendants refused to waive extradition, therefore our office sought and obtained a Governor’s warrant in order to extradite them, delaying their return to Lassen County by months.
Governor Gavin Newsom authorized our extradition on January 20, 2023 and the packet was then sent to Attorney General in Idaho. Hood and Tidwell were made available for pick up this week and correctional staff from the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility traveled to Idaho to pick up the defendants. They were arraigned this afternoon at 4pm, where the court set bail for Mr. Tidwell at $30,000 and released Ms. Hood on her own recognizance and a promise to appear at the next court date.
The preliminary hearing for both defendants is scheduled for March 15, 2023.
As with all criminal defendants, the charges are only allegations at this time and they are presumed not guilty until pled or proven otherwise.
___________________________________________
Original Story
The Lassen County Sheriff’s arrested Aaron Lee Tidwell and Mary Ann Hood on animal abuse and sexual cruelty to an animal at 2:30 this morning in Idaho. The two were picked up on warrants from August after a cell phone was turned in when found at their previous home in Susanville. The phone uncovered the details with photos and videos of the physical and sexual abuse to animals. . The couple had resided in the Rocky Crest Mobile Park and had recently moved to the Idaho area. The sheriff’s department traveled to Iado to serve the warrants and make the arrest. The case has been turned over to the District Attorney and they will be in arraignment on Wednesday.
