New York: Emiliano Zapata, 47, pleads not guilty to animal cruelty

NEW YORK -- A Newburgh man accused of animal cruelty pleaded not guilty to all charges in Hamptonburgh Town Court on Wednesday night.

Emiliano Zapata, 47, entered the plea during his arraignment before Town Justice Edward Souto.

The case was adjourned until Jan. 27, and Souto ruled that Zapata could remain free on his own recognizance.

Zapata was arrested Oct. 10 after more than 100 starving animals were found on a farm in Hamptonburgh.

The animals, including goats, sheep, cattle, chickens and pigs, were removed by the Hudson Valley SPCA’s humane law enforcement division, with the help of several animal rescue groups.

Zapata was charged with multiple counts of neglect and unlawful disposal of animals, which are misdemeanors under the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law. He also was cited by the state Department of Environmental Conservation for burning without a permit.

Susie Coston, national shelter director for Farm Sanctuary, one of the animal rescue groups at the farm on Oct. 10, described it at the time as a “hideous backyard butcher site.”

She said a cow had been slaughtered earlier that morning and parts of it were still at the farm.

Officers found about 20 dead animals rotting in the fields.

The adjournment until January will allow time for evidence discovery, and for the Orange County District Attorney’s office to file amended complaints. Zapata’s lawyers, Daniel C. Jackson and Marcello A. Cirigliano, said the original complaints did not document and identify each animal their client is accused of harming.

(Times Herald-Record - Nov 18, 2015)

Earlier:

• New York: Emiliano Zapata, 47, charged with animal cruelty after farm slaughterhouse raided