New York: The Chief of Hudson Valley SPCA Law Enforcement Division Gene Hecht said it's one of the worst cases of animal abuse he's ever seen. So why is the DA's Office trying to let Emiliano Zapata off the hook with a guilty plea of just 1 count of cruelty and a 30-day probation sentence when he's accused of abusing and neglecting nearly 200 animals???

NEW YORK -- A Newburgh man rejected a plea deal from the Orange County District Attorney's Office on charges of animal cruelty in town court Wednesday evening.

After officials said they found more than 100 starving animals on a Hamptonburgh farm, Emiliano Zapata was accused of animal cruelty and charged Oct. 10, 2015, with multiple counts of neglect and unlawful disposal of animals, misdemeanors under the state's Agriculture and Markets Law.

The 170 animals at the 300-acre farm included goats, sheep, cattle, chickens and pigs, many in need of medical attention.

Zapata pleaded not guilty to all charges in November 2015.

DISGUSTING, PATHETIC PLEA DEAL OFFERED BY THE DA'S OFFICE

The district attorney's office offered a plea deal to Zapata on Wednesday.

If he pleaded guilty to one count of animal cruelty and one count of unlawful burning, the office would recommend a 30-day jail sentence and a $500 fine, said Andrew Kass, executive assistant district attorney.

Zapata rejected that offer, and another hearing will be scheduled for late February or early March.

ZAPATA WAS ON PROBATION FOR SOMETHING ELSE WHEN THE ANIMALS WERE SEIZED AND HE WAS CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY

Zapata remains in Orange County Jail on an unrelated violation of parole.

(Record Online - Jan 25, 2017)

Earlier:

• New York: Emiliano Zapata, 47, charged with animal cruelty after farm slaughterhouse raided
• New York: Emiliano Zapata, 47, pleads not guilty to animal cruelty