Newfield hoarding case: Man sentenced to 60 days in jail after 28 animals seized

NEWFIELD, N.Y. – A man was sentenced to 60 days in jail months after officials found 28 live and three dead animals in a mobile home he was living in with a woman.

Kevin Pierce, 42, was initially charged with 31 counts which included overdriving, torturing and injuring animals; failure to provide proper sustenance and failure to provide proper food and drink to impounded animal. His sentence included probation which allows the SPCA of Tompkins County to keep track of his whereabouts for the next three years to ensure he does not accumulate an illegal amount of pets.

Courtney Cotter, who was also charged in the case, previously accepted a plea deal of three years of probation. Cotter, who is visually impaired, was not sentenced to jail time.

Newfield Judge William Chernish previously said that Cotter has slightly less culpability in the crimes than Pierce. And although Pierce's defense argued that the woman is dependent on the man for her day-to-day well being, Chernish said the court was in a difficult position.

Cotter and Pierce were also previously involved in the largest animal hoarding case in the county.

In 2010, officials seized 98 animals from a one-bedroom trailer at 18 Creamery Road in Brooktondale.

According to court documents, officials took 36 cats, 51 dogs, 6 guinea pigs, three chinchillas and two rats from the residence. A dead cat and two dead guinea pigs were found at the trailer, and one dog had to be euthanized for displaying "extreme aggression."

Neither of them were sentenced to jail time for the incident.

SPCA Director Jim Bouderau said Thursday morning, "We certainly feel justice has been served...To see jail time in situations like this is pretty rare, but obviously the fact that this is his second large offense for  a crime like this really made the judge in this case feel like jail time was warranted and deserved."

He said the SPCA will be seeking restitution for the case to cover the costs of caring for the animals. He previously said that just medical costs are about $600 per animal, stretching the facility's budget.