Ohio woman sentenced to 42 days for animal cruelty charges involving malnourished horses
By APFriday, September 24, 2010
Ohio horse owner sentenced to 42 days for cruelty
PORT CLINTON, Ohio — A judge has ordered an Ohio woman to serve 42 days in jail for neglecting dozens of emaciated Arabian horses taken from her farm last winter.
Ottawa County Municipal Judge Frederick Hany (HAY’-nee) sentenced Robin Vess on Friday to 90 days on each of 42 animal cruelty convictions. She’ll serve only the 42 days if she follows terms of a five-year probation. She also cannot own horses.
The Humane Society of Ottawa County took several horses in January from Vess’ farm about 25 miles southeast of Toledo. Hany says their symptoms included dehydration, malnutrition, parasite infestation and poor foot and dental care.
Vess has said someone she hired had been feeding the horses because she had severe depression.
She was convicted in April after a jury trial.
