UNADILLA, Neb. (AP) - A man who was imprisoned for neglecting his livestock has been charged in a new case after animal carcasses were found on his southeast Nebraska property.
John Maahs, 67, faces 10 felony animal cruelty and neglect charges after dead pigs and goats were found on his Otoe County farm, the Lincoln Journal-Star reported .
Maahs was convicted of the same charges in 2011 after deputies found about 1,000 dead hogs on the property. Maahs served more than a year in prison for that case and paid more than $50,000 in fines and cleanup costs, said Otoe County Attorney David Partsch.
“He really didn’t have an excuse,” Partsch said. “He said he just got lazy.”
Police made periodic visits to Maahs’ farm after he was released in 2013. But police determined that all animals appeared healthy during the check-ins, Holland said. Police were tipped off last month by a motorist who returned one of Maahs’ goats that fled its pen.
Chief Deputy Mike Holland called the more than 40 dead pigs and 15 dead goats found a “disgusting scene.” Police found live hogs feeding on dead hogs.
Animals were locked inside buildings without food or water despite deputies finding plenty of feed sacks on the farm, Holland said.
“Where the carcasses were as far as decomposition, it looks to me it’s probably something that’s been going on the last six months,” Holland said.
A judge ordered Thursday that the surviving animals be forfeited to the sheriff’s office. The livestock will likely be sold at an auction to help cover cleanup costs, Partsch said.
Maahs didn’t return a request for comment and doesn’t appear to have an attorney. He’s scheduled to appear in court May 21. He faces 20 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
Maahs could also be prohibited from owning animals again.
“He obviously didn’t change his behaviors,” Partsch said. “So we’ll be seeking every remedy possible to ensure he doesn’t have the opportunity to do this again.”
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, http://www.journalstar.com
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