RIVERSIDE — A co-defendant in the animal cruelty case involving Tiger Rescue operator John Weinhart was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

Marla Smith, 49, of Riverside had pleaded guilty in a Jan. 25 plea bargain to one felony count of willful cruelty to a child, 16 felony counts of animal cruelty and 46 misdemeanor violations involving the care of animals. The deal with prosecutors called for 120 days in jail.

But Superior Court Judge Ronald Taylor decided Thursday that the defendant deserved more jail time, after considering court testimony from Smith's 10-year-old son and reviewing a probation report. The judge told Smith she could withdraw her plea and go to trial.

"She wishes to proceed with the 180 days," Smith attorney Regina Filippone said.

The judge said the jail time could be served on weekends, and he also placed her on four years' probation.

"I don't think it would be in (the child's) best interest to have Smith imprisoned for a significant amount of time. Counseling is the remedy here to help her improve her parenting skills," Taylor said.

State wildlife officials and animal-control officers served a search warrant at the Glen Avon compound Smith shared with Weinhart on April 22, 2003, and they found the carcasses of 53 tiger cubs and five leopard cubs.

Animal tranquilizers were found in the couple's refrigerator alongside rotten food and syringes were stashed in the refrigerator door, posing a threat to the woman's son.

The home was also filthy with feces on floors and the couple's son was found watching TV on a urine-soaked bed.

Weinhart was convicted last month on 56 of 61 charges against him, including child endangerment and 13 felony animal-cruelty counts, and will be sentenced March on 22.