Napiers receive sentencing in animal cruelty case

A case that took more than two years to build against Alan and Sheree Napier culminated in sentencing today.

The former owners of Napier's Log Cabin Horse & Animal Sanctuary appeared before Judge Peter Dubensky March 27, at the Manatee County Courthouse. After finding the Napiers guilty of (collectively) 16 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and two counts of fraud Feb. 5, Dubensky sentenced Alan Napier to three years in prison and four years on probation.

Sheree Napier will serve 270 days in county jail, followed by three years in prison.

The couple faced three to 85 years in prison, based on a range of charges.

The Manatee County Sherriff's Office raided the East County property, located off State Road 64, Feb. 5, 2014, after various phone calls from concerned residents who suspected animal abused was occurring on the property.

Officials seized more than 300 dogs cats, goats, horses and other animals from the property, which Sergeant Lorenzo Waiters described as "unlivable and one of the worst he has seen throughout his years in law enforcement."

Local shelter volunteers and employees, such as Karen Slomba, of Nate's Honor Animal Rescue, visited the Napier's former property and helped confiscate the animals. Nate's has adopted out all of the 75 dogs and cats it took in from the raid.

For other stories on this case, browse http://yourobserver.com.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].