Scott sentenced for abandoning dog Nova

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WILKES-BARRE — A Plymouth woman who admitted to taking part in abandoning a malnourished pit bull puppy named Nova in Pittston was granted immediate parole Monday.

Luzerne County Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. sentenced Shaniqwa Shantel Scott, 25, to seven-days to 15 months at the county correctional facility on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals. Scott pled guilty to the offense on March 11.

Scott was awarded seven-days time served at the correctional facility following her arrest by Pittston police and county detectives in February 2023, which resulted in being paroled.

Her former partner, Terik Wiggins, 31, of Wilkes-Barre, was sentenced in June to four-to-24 months at the correctional facility on a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals. Wiggins could be released in August as he was awarded credit for 58 days time served following his arrest.

Prior to being sentenced, Scott, who was represented by Attorney Robert J. Scanlon, apologized telling the judge “there was a lot going on.”

Scott and Wiggins were charged after a lengthy investigation that began when Nova was found abandoned and in poor health on Davis Alley on June 8, 2021.

The case generated massive publicity in the region with the rallying cry, “Justice for Nova.”

Nova was nursed back to health and was adopted by former Pittston City police chief Neil Murphy, now a county detective,” and his wife, Lena Angelella, police chief in Pittston Township.