Man Sentenced On Animal Cruelty Charges

August 17, 2015

An Escambia County man has been sentenced on animal cruelty charges.

Mitchell Brent Dempsey, 36, was sentenced to 180 days in the county jail on two counts of animal cruelty by Judge Gary Bergosh. He was also sentenced to two years probation, during which he is prohibited from owning any animals. He was also ordered to pay restitution to Escambia County and Panhandle Equine Rescue.

Dempsey was charged for neglecting two miniature horses, one of which died. The second, named “Lightning Bug” was rehabilitated by Panhandle Equine Rescue and later became the group’s mascot his own Facebook page.

The only horse rescue in Escambia County, Panhandle Equine Rescue in Cantonment was founded by a small group of concerned citizens with a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and provide adoption services for abused, neglected and abandoned equines. PER is authorized by the court system to investigate equine cruelty in Escambia County.

Pictured top: A rehabilitated miniature horse Lightning Bug at Panhandle Equine Rescue now. Pictured below: Lightning Bug after the arrest of an Escambia man for animal cruelty. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

6 Responses to “Man Sentenced On Animal Cruelty Charges”

  1. brutel betty on August 21st, 2015 9:37 am

    too bad he didn’t get 180 YEARS. maybe he will starve to death …that would be justice.

  2. Kathy on August 17th, 2015 7:09 pm

    Not enough punishment, for the recklessness ,its a shame

  3. LEON BRADLEY on August 17th, 2015 6:51 am

    I hope they will give Mr. Dempsey a glass of water and one slice of bread per day and see how he will manage!

  4. cowgirl on August 17th, 2015 6:41 am

    Theres another heartless human that doesnt care about life.being one died he should have got atleast 5 yrs with bread and water.theres to much of this going on and it needs to stop.if you cant feed them let them go.i would turn them loose in the deep woods before i would let them starve.atleast they could find something to eat. If i only had the money to support all these starving animals but i dont living on one check a month. If all the businesses and well off people would give the equine group some money and give up one day shopping or a trip to the casino or a good meal they could help feed the poor animals.please people help these people care for these horses and babies.breaks my heart to hear of such a person that can do this.

  5. Jane on August 17th, 2015 5:52 am

    The folks at Panhandle Equinine Rescue are amazing and do this on their own, with some donations. Chip in and help them if you can!

  6. smart on August 17th, 2015 4:24 am

    I don’t feel he got what he deserved!!!! 2 years probation and can’t have any animal (wow slap my hands). If you own an animal you owe it Food shelter and love. The judge just lost any kind of vote from me. I hope that people will watch this guy and report him if they see him doing wrong.