Man convicted of animal abuse sent to jail after violating release conditions

An Armstrong, B.C., man, who the B.C. SPCAsays was handed the longest jail term foran animal cruelty case in B.C. history, was sent to jail Wednesdayafter breaching his conditional sentence for an animal abuse conviction.

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The convictionstemsfrom a Dec. 2014 investigation into his property in the Armstrong area where numerous horses were found malnourished and near death. There were reportedly over 100 horses discovered on the farm.

Roberts received a nine-month conditional sentence on March 14, but on April 12, appeared in Vernon court for breaching those conditions.

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He admitted to the breach and was ordered to serve the remainder of his sentence in custody.

According to SPCA senior animal protection officer Kathy Woodward, Roberts' breach was for returning to his property, where about 30 of his horses still live, under the care of his family.

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The SPCA seized 16 horses from the 2014 investigation, three of which were euthanized.

In addition to the nine-month conditional sentence,Roberts wasbanned from owning animals for 20 years.