This is a huge step…After pleading guilty to aggravated animal cruelty charges, Nick Patterson, a 30-year-old man from Alex City, Alabama, received a sentence of 99 years in prison.
Leading up to his arrest, Patterson neglected purebred Collies on his grandparents’ property. Patterson starved the poor pups.
The plea deal became official on Wednesday. During the plea, Patterson pleaded guilty to more than one crime. Patterson admitted to nine counts of animal abuse and three counts of financial transaction card fraud.
Assistant District Attorney Damon Lewis negotiated the deal. He hopes this will send a message to local residents. He claims this has been an emotional case which involves one of the worst cases of animal abuse he had ever seen.
“If you hurt a child or hurt an animal in Tallapoosa County, you are going to prison,” Lewis said. “It’s that simple.
Police discovered the 14 dogs last June. What they saw broke their hearts. After walking around the outdoor enclosures, they saw the 14 dogs, still living, extremely malnourished.
The dogs only drank dirty rainwater. Later, police found out the dogs were only fed periodically. Collies living in the enclosures seemed to be neglected for months. To their surprise, Police found the rotting remains of six other dogs lying around.
To try and escape prosecution, Patterson went on the run. During his run, he fraudulently utilized credit cards and stolen checks.
Eventually, Patterson turned himself into authorities from Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Patteson received a sentence of 10 years on each of the nine animal cruelty act counts. The court gave him three years for each of his fraud charges.
After he serves a minimum of 18 years, Patterson could be eligible for parole.
Understandably, Patterson became ineligible to ever own another animal
WSFA reported that Patterson showed not even a bit of emotion while receiving his sentence.
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