Timothy Michael Weltmer, 46, was sentenced by Cumberland County Judge Edward E. Guido to two to 23 months in prison. He had been found guilty of nine counts of cruelty to animals after a one-day trial in October.
Newville police were called to the West Street house Weltmer had been renting after receiving reports of the smell of “something dead” inside, according to testimony.
Police were met by the strong odor of decomposition, and inside officers found the remains of several cats that had died of starvation.
Testimony from veterinarian Douglas Ray indicates the cats “were too decomposed to even perform an autopsy.”
One cat was found alive, but died shortly after being taken from the house of anemia due to a flea infestation.
Timothy Weltmer’s co-defendant, Michele Lynn Ryan, 49, pleaded guilty to the same charges in October and was sentenced to the same prison term.
(PennLive - January 12, 2013)
Earlier:
- Pennsylvania: Michele Ryan and Tim Weltmer facing animal cruelty charges after they abandoned their 21 cats to slowly die inside a filthy 100-degree apartment
- Pennsylvania: Michele Ryan given 2 months in jail after being charged with 69 counts of animal cruelty for abandoning 21 cats to die. Her boyfriend Tim Weltmer facing trial.
- Pennsylvania: Tim Weltmer found guilty of animal cruelty in cat abandonment case. His girlfriend already took a plea deal after they abandoned their 21 cats inside a filthy apartment to slowly die one by one
