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Loxahatchee man sentenced for animal cruelty

Posted at 2:45 PM, Apr 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-26 21:20:31-04

A judge has sentenced Jorge Garcia whowas found guilty on misdemeanor animal cruelty charges following a raid at a farm in Loxahatchee last October. 

During his trial hidden camera video was the state's key piece of evidence. It showed workers at Rancho Garcia hanging goats upside down and cutting their necks.

Prosecutors said the video showed the animals suffering and that the slaughters were inhumane.

During the raid, Garcia was one of six people taken into custody that resulted in the seizure of 750 animals.

The animals seized include goats, pigs, cattle, birds, dogs, cats and fighting roosters, the sheriff's office said.  

The judge sentenced Garcia to 364 days behind bars with credit for time served followed by a year of probation.

Conditions of his probation include no possession of animals.

His attorney says Garcia will appeal.