East Elmhurst woman convicted of assaulting probation officer

Elizabeth Grant was convicted of assaulting a probation officer after a Queens Supreme Court justice determined she pushed the officer down stairs at her home in East Elmhurst. Photo via Google Maps.

By Jonathan Sperling

An East Elmhurst woman who shoved a probation officer down a staircase was convicted in Queens Supreme Court last week, just over a year after she was convicted on animal cruelty charges.

Elizabeth Grant was serving a 10-year probationary period for animal cruelty when a probation officer made an unnannounced visit to her home on 82nd Street in August 2018. Grant’s mother greeted the officer at the door, but as the officer made observations around the home, Grant screamed obscenities at her. Grant then pushed the officer as she was walking down the stairs from the second floor. The officer slipped down a few steps and grabbed onto the bannister, twisting her back and injuring it.

During a month-long bench trial the probation officer testified before Justice Daniel Lewis that she observed cats, dogs, fish and other pets living in squalid conditions, despite the fact that Grant’s earlier conviction on animal cruelty charges barred her from owning pets at the time. The officer also testified that some of the animals were malnourished, and that there was feces on the floor of the house.

Grant was found guilty of second-degree assault, second-degree harassment, 16 counts of criminal contempt and 16 counts of failing to provide proper food and drink to an impounded animal. Sentencing is set for Sept. 24 and Grant faces up to seven years in prison.

In April 2018, Grant was convicted of seperate animal cruelty charges and informed that there would be unannounced visits by a probation officer during her probationary period.