Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
As Eric Ivan Roldan walked into the crowded courtroom at the Suwannee County Courthouse on Thursday, July 10, he was immediately shuffled to the jury room while locking glances with protesters who had been gathering at the courthouse since his first appearance.
During the scheduled court proceeding, Roldan, who is being charged with felony animal abuse, was provided a continuance until Thursday, Aug. 21.
Roldan's attorney, Karen Hatton, requested during the pretrial hearing to retract a prior statement made in a previous hearing concerning his last attorney, as she was now representing him. "He does not want to continue the hearing," she said to Circuit Judge Mark Feagle, who has been presiding over Roldan's case.
The state also had no objections to the continuance, as it had not offered a plea deal to Roldan while its investigation is still ongoing, according to the State Attorney's Office. Roldan, who remains at the Suwannee County Jail, will stay on the August trial term for now, unless the court grants any further continuances. A bond has not been issued to him.
Sweetpea has continued to show impressive progress and has been making public appearances, most recently at the Branford River Reunion Festival on Friday, July 4. While not entirely out of the woods, the prognosis for the puppy has remained positive and still maintains a regular checkup schedule, according to Krystal Detty, owner of Livin' Like Larry Farm Sanctuary.