By MELISSA N. WARREN / Review Appeal Staff Reporter

Defense attorneys Ken Sanney, middle, and Rebecca Byrd, right, escort Jennifer Siliski out of the side door of the Williamson County Courthouse just before Siliski turned herself into jail yesterday. (Jim Rodriguez / Staff)

On the same day a judge returned her four children, Franklin dog breeder Jennifer Siliski surrendered to authorities to face numerous counts of animal cruelty.

Siliski, owner of Hollybelle’s Maltese home kennel, made the $10,000 bond late Tuesday. She is charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty as well as illegal possession of Ketamine, a controlled substance, said District Attorney General Ron Davis. The charges resulted from a Jan. 22 raid at her 2235 Bowman Road residence, where 230 animals were confiscated.

A hearing for dismissal of the Siliski custody case was set to begin at 9 a.m. yesterday in Williamson County Juvenile Court. That motion was filed by defense attorney Rebecca Byrd and scheduled to be heard by Judge Jane Franks.

After an hour and a half, though, only the judge appeared in the courtroom.

“It is my understanding that the parties have reached an agreement,” Franks said. “There will not be a hearing. We do believe that all matters regarding the children have been worked out.”

Franks, who has mothered 12 children herself, said she would not sign an order for the children’s release until she was satisfied they were in good hands.

By noon, the judge apparently had reached that decision, as Byrd appeared to give a statement.

“The children will be returned to their mother today,” the attorney said.

“Ms. Siliski is very pleased that the children will be back in the house ... she’s been a great mom and the children thrived in her care.”

Byrd said she would not “go into details” regarding any concessions the defense made in order to reach the agreement, could not comment on any criminal charges and had nothing to say when asked about allegations that she owns two Siliski-bred Maltese dogs.

Byrd did say she would represent Siliski if any criminal charges were filed in the future.

What neither Siliski nor her lawyers knew, though, was that the indictment was already in place, according to Attorney General Ron Davis.

“We went to grand jury yesterday,” Davis said. “But it was a sealed indictment and we were not allowed to say anything until the capeus had been served.”

Apparently, that warrant was served by Criminal Investigator John Brown sometime yesterday.

Siliski arrived at the county jail with Byrd and her other attorney, Ken Sanney, at around 2:30 in the afternoon. She was met by Brown and taken into custody for booking. Her lawyers said that, by law, they were not allowed to know she would face criminal charges yesterday.

According to spokeswoman Carla Aaron, the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) did not know about the criminal charges, either.

“We were made aware of the charges after we came to an agreement about the children with Ms. Siliski and her attorney,” Aaron said. “We feel that the conditions that brought the children into state custody have been rectified.”

Davis said “no comment” when asked if the DA’s office would have served the indictment earlier if officials had known Siliski’s children would be returned yesterday.

The children, ages 10, 11, 13 and 15, were taken away because of “deplorable conditions,” including reports of feces on the walls, IV bags on the counters and medical syringes in the master bedroom. The children will remain in DCS custody even though they physically will be in Siliski’s home, Aaron said.

“One of the children will continue to live with his father for a short time because of unrelated issues,” she said.

After Siliski was charged and booked, her fourth ex-husband, Alan Siliski of Nashville, arrived to post bond.

“We thought the bond would be set at $35,000,” Davis said. “If you take the standard bond for that particular charge and multiply it by 30, that’s the amount. Judge (R.E. Lee) Davies apparently thought that was too much and set it at $10,000.”

Mr. Siliski, who is an accountant, posted the required 10 percent of the bond amount, plus the additional $37 in taxes to Grumpy’s Bail Bonding.

“Ms. Siliski will be back at her home tonight,” Byrd said. “With her children.”


Staff Reporter Melissa N. Warren can be contacted at melissa@reviewappeal.com.