Hochman charged De Anda with 35 counts over Rock 'N' Pawz.

A charging stack and a warrant filing are accusations. Requested bail and a maximum exposure if convicted are process and advocacy numbers, not a finding of guilt. On Sept. 18, 2026, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman charged Christine De Anda, 57, of Lake Hughes, operator of the Rock 'N' Pawz animal rescue, with 35 counts for allegedly keeping more than 300 animals in inhumane and unsanitary conditions.

The charges, in case 26AVCF01162, are 12 felony counts of cruelty to an animal, two felony counts of grand theft of labor, and 21 misdemeanors. The misdemeanor stack, as charged, includes three misdemeanor animal-cruelty counts, code-enforcement counts, failure to care for animals and to provide food and water, injurious and unsanitary conditions, operating a kennel without a license or land-use approval, and unpermitted-construction issues. The allegations include starvation, dehydration, untreated injuries, and urine and fecal burns. The charging announcement identifies her as 57, with a date of birth of Jan. 6, 1969. A count list is a charging document. It is not a finding that any animal was starved, that any labor was stolen, or that a kennel was operated without approval.

The case was filed for a warrant. Arraignment is to be set later at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. Prosecutors requested bail of $914,500. A requested bail figure is what the People asked for. It is not a bail order already entered, and it is not a finding of guilt. A search warrant was executed March 20, 2026, by Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control with other county agencies. It was described as the largest companion-animal search and rescue by that department. The investigation found one cat dead from starvation and dehydration. If convicted as charged, she faces up to 24.5 years in state prison, the district attorney said. A maximum is an advocacy number. It is not a sentence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.