LITCHFIELD — Frederick Acker, the former director of an organization that works to keep dogs safe, was sentenced Thursday to six months suspended and two years of probation after his conviction earlier this month on 15 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty.
Acker’s attorney, Ralph Crozier, said he does not agree with the guilty finding, but believes the sentence is proper.
“I think the sentence was completely, 100 percent appropriate under the circumstances. He did not belong in jail and he was allowed to continue to care for the dogs he loves,” Crozier said.
Acker, who had been facing a maximum of 15 years in prison, was also ordered to pay $13,481 in restitution to the town of Bethlehem and must be open to random inspections of his canine rescue facilities in Bethlehem and Monroe, Crozier said.
Acker, who was director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Connecticut, was found guilty of 15 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after a trial by judge.
Judge John Danaher III found that there was inadequate heat for the smallest of the dogs in the Bethlehem building in which they were being kept in November of 2012.
Acker is appealing the conviction. Additional animal cruelty charges against Acker are pending in Superior Court in Milford.
By Hilda Munoz, Hartford Courant