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Anthony Houston Smith II, 55, was sentenced to six years with all suspended but 30 days to spend in jail - which will be served during 10 consecutive weekends - after admitting to animal cruelty charges earlier this year following an investigation on his property.
On Feb. 11, 2023, deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office were called to a home in the 8300 block of Water Street Road in Walkersville, where there were reports of “dogs being starved and possibly dead on the property.”
Animal Control was then called to the scene and subsequently searched the property after receiving permission from Smith.
While searching the property, authorities found five dogs which appeared to be starved and struggling for water, an additional three were found dead on the property, two of which were found discarded in trash bags.
Of the five surviving dogs, four were taken to a shelter and the fifth was rushed to a veterinarian for treatment and evaluation of its condition.
In May last year, Smith was charged with 23 counts of animal cruelty, and he later entered an Alford plea to two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty, which he was found guilty on both charges.
In addition to his jail time, a judge also ordered Smith serve three years of probation with special conditions that will bar him from acquiring any additional pets, compliance checks done by animal control, and he must enter into any other programs recommended by supervising agent.
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