Man Sentenced To 99 Years In Prison On Animal Cruelty Charges

Nick Patterson, 30, of Alex City, Alabama, was sentenced to 99 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated animal cruelty charges.



Patterson starved and neglected purebred Collies on his grandparents’ property, leading to his arrest.

A plea deal was struck on Wednesday between Patterson and the prosecution, where he pleaded guilty not only to nine counts of animal abuse, but also three counts of financial transaction card fraud, reports Alex City Outlook.

Assistant District Attorney Damon Lewis, who negotiated the plea deal, hopes this will “send a message” to local residents.

“If you hurt a child or hurt an animal in Tallapoosa County, you are going to prison,” Lewis said. “It’s that simple. This has been an emotional case and one that involved some of the worst animal abuse I have ever seen.”

Police discovered 14 living, but malnourished, dogs in outdoor enclosures where Patterson lived last June. The dogs only had dirty rain water to drink and it was found that they were only fed sporadically, and had been neglected for months. Police also found the remains of six other Collies on the property.

To try and flee from police, Patterson went on the run. It is then that he reportedly fraudulently used credit cards and stolen checks in order to keep going. Patterson eventually turned himself in to authorities in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on July 24.

Patterson was sentenced to 10 years on each of the nine animal abuse counts, and three years on each fraud charge. All sentences will run concurrently.

He may be eligible for parole after he serves a minimum of 18 years, per WSFA.

Patterson is not allowed to ever own an animal again.

WSFA reports that Patterson showed no emotion when the sentence was handed down.

Sources: WSFA, Alex City Outlook / Photo Source: WSFA

By Kathryn Schroeder, Sat, March 7, 2015


http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/animal-rights/man-sentenced-99-years-prison-animal-cruelty-charges

Maybe they should do the same thing to him-I hate people like that-He deserves everything he gets, plus alot more-

Maybe they should do the same thing to him-I hate people like that-He deserves everything he gets, plus alot more-

That's right- The system is totally screwed up-

Actually, not nearly as good a result as the misleading headline implies.  Yes, he was technically sentenced to 99 years BUT it was a combination of sentences added together that made up the 99 years, including 54 fraud charges.  He will actually serve 2 years (minus time already served) and then 8 years probation as all of his sentences will be served concurrently.  Too bad it wasn't to be served consecutively. The local newspaper has the story   http://www.alexcityoutlook.com/2015/03/04/patterson-pleads-guilty-on-animal-abuse-charges/

Catman, thank you for digging deeper.  The added information is helpful.

Too bad he will be out soon and probably back to his unsavory ways.

At least they added the provision that he is never again to own an animal.  I suppose that would be a violation of his probation and he could be sent back to prison to serve the time  Most of these scumbags just move to another state and start again.

I'd give him 10 consecutive life terms- He took those poor Collie's lives, and starved and made the others suffer- Make an example out of him, and crucify anyone doing this in the future-The death sentence seems very fitting-

This guy needs a little bit of the electrical treatment to the head for them 2 years

I'm thinking 'ol Sparky-

Then again he may get his just reward in prison. Killers and such despise two kinds if prisoners, those that abuse children and those that abuse animals. Hard core prisoners do have a standard to uphold. 

I bet he wishes he had been a drunk driver killing children. That way he could get a lighter sentence.

HezekiaH wrote:I bet he wishes he had been a drunk driver killing children. That way he could get a lighter sentence.

It is sad isn't it HezekiaH.  Our justice system is pretty messed up.