A judge went against a plea agreement and handed out a stiffer sentence to a Petersburg man convicted of animal neglect.
Sixty-six year old James Majerus was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation in Boone County District Court on Tuesday. Majerus pleaded no contest in August to one count of felony animal neglect related to the seizure of a number of horses from his farm near Petersburg back in December. His plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors, which recommended just 60 days in jail. But Judge Rachel Dougherty cited a previous animal case that Majerus was involved in where a co-defendant was sentenced to six months in jail. Judge Dougherty said given that this was Majerus’ second offense, anything less than six months wouldn’t have been fair. Majerus is also barred from owning horses for 15 years according to state statute. From news partner US92 |