The director of the Reston Zoo charged with animal cruelty in the drowning of a wallaby was convicted Friday.

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Meghan Mogensen, 26, was found guilty and sentenced to spend 24 days in jail. She was also given a $1,000 fine.

Her attorney says they will appeal the jail sentence.

Fairfax County animal control officers charged Mogensen, of Silver Spring, Md., after an investigation into allegations she drowned an injured wallaby.

Mogensen denied the charges.

Police say Mogensen told them she euthanized the animal by giving it a lethal injection. 

But authorities say the zoo did not have the appropriate permits or training to dispense the euthanasia drug that was used to kill the animal.