BUXTON – Buxton Police Chief Mike Grovo said Tuesday the York County District Attorney’s Office is now emailing police about pending cases to prevent the kind of miscommunication the occurred in March regarding the handling of a puppy mill case.

Animal welfare workers and Grovo were unaware of a March 17 hearing in which a court plea deal was reached with John and Heidi Frasca. The Frascas, now residents of Massachusetts, were owners of a Buxton kennel where 250 dogs were seized in a raid in 2007. The state claimed many of the animals were diseased and mistreated.

The Frascas were charged with 25 counts each of cruelty to animals. They could have gone to jail.

But under an agreement in York County Superior Court, charges were reduced to five counts. In their deal, the former couple agreed a court could find them guilty, and the case was deferred 17 months, when their pleas will be withdrawn and all charges dismissed. Under terms of the deal, the Frascas must complete 60 hours of community service and will be allowed to possess just four animals.

In the aftermath of the plea agreement, Grovo and animal welfare advocates expressed outrage in a public meeting at Buxton Town Hall on March 25. State officials and Grovo said they were not notified about the hearing on March 17.

In a prepared statement Tuesday, Grovo said he met on April 12 with York County District Attorney Katherine Slattery, Assistant District Attorney John Connelly and state veterinarian Christine Fraser to discuss the aftermath of the case.

“District Attorney Slattery and Assistant District Attorney Connelly were sincere in telling us that errors were made,” Grovo said in the prepared statement he released Tuesday.

Grovo said, there’s a “chronic shortage of employees in the district attorney’s office, an overwhelming number of cases and the recent transition of employees.”

“It was a good constructive meeting,” Grovo said in a telephone interview Tuesday, and an open-door policy to contact one another developed.

Grovo said that the DA’s office is now e-mailing the trial management lists to police departments.

“The officer involved in the case is made aware the case is up for trial that month,” Grovo said in his statement.

“I do feel confident going forward that the criminal and civil cases that our police department handles and sends to the district attorney’s office will be handled properly,” Grovo said. “The Frasca case is behind us, and we will continue to enforce all animal cruelty crimes no matter what the severity.

“We just move on,” he said.