CORNWALL–A man responsible for dozens of goats dying and being mistreated on his farm has been found guilty.
According to a source with the Department of Agriculture, on Thursday, a jury found Michael Hearl, 43, of West Suffield, guilty on 19 counts of animal cruelty. He had faced 63 counts.
In January, the Department of Agriculture seized 74 malnourished goats, and found another 70 that were already dead on the Butterfield Farm in Cornwall.
Hearl now faces 19 years in prison.
His girlfriend, Tara Bryson, 40, also faced 63 counts of animal cruelty but took a plea deal that could lead to a two-year prison term when she’s sentenced next month.
The goats that were seized were brought back to health and then either sold at livestock auctions or placed with animal rescue organizations; 23 goats that were born after the seizure were offered to youth project groups.
