BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore man has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to 42 counts of animal cruelty following the seizure of 83 dogs from his property in May. Robert Conley will serve 3 years of supervised probation and is ordered to pay $12,000 restitution to the Baltimore Animal Rescue & Care Shelter (BARCS) during his probation period.

The sentence was announced by State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates, Baltimore City Sheriff Samuel L. Cogen, and Baltimore City Animal Control. The guilty plea and sentencing stem from a May 2024 raid on Conley’s Central Park Heights property, where authorities discovered 83 dogs living in filthy conditions.

“This defendant demonstrated a complete disregard for the well-being of innocent animals,” said State’s Attorney Bates. He commended Assistant State’s Attorneys Alison Rajk and Robert Schenker for their work on the case and reiterated his office’s commitment to protecting animals.

Baltimore City Sheriff’s deputies and Animal Control officers who executed the warrant described an overwhelming ammonia smell upon entering the property, causing eye-watering and burning sensations. The dogs were found confined to crates filled with excrement. All 83 animals were seized and transported to BARCS for medical care and rehabilitation.

“The Baltimore City Sheriff’s Office does not tolerate the abuse of animals in the City and is proud to have been a part of bringing this unfortunate incident to light,” said Sheriff Cogen.

Jennifer Brause, BARCS Founder and CEO, expressed gratitude for the successful prosecution of the case and highlighted the community’s role in supporting the care of the rescued animals. “We are deeply grateful to the Baltimore City State’s Attorney for seeking justice in this case. We also want to thank our donors, whose generosity allowed us to provide the necessary emergency care, and the adopters who gave these 84 animals loving homes. This case shows the incredible impact of a community coming together for animals in need,” she said.

As part of his sentence, Conley is prohibited from possessing or caring for animals and must consent to random visits by animal control to ensure compliance.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo via Google