Mistreatment of exotic big cats
Rapid CIty, SD (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 28, 2004
County: Pennington

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Ken Alvarez

More than two years after authorities seized 28 lions, tigers and other big cats being kept near Keystone, the man accused of mistreating the animals has been sentenced in 7th Circuit Court.

Ken Alvarez, 34 or 35, of Kersey, Colo., was initially charged with 28 misdemeanor counts of inhumane treatment of animals and 28 misdemeanor counts of keeping potentially dangerous animals in improper enclosures. He later pleaded guilty to two counts of improperly caging animals as part of a plea agreement with the Pennington County State's Attorney's Office.

Thursday, Alvarez was sentenced to probation. A two-year jail sentence was suspended, providing Alvarez pays $5,000 in restitution, said Pennington County State's Attorney Glenn Brenner. The money - $3,000 of which was paid Thursday - will go to the Humane Society of the Black Hills to offset their costs in caring for the animals, most of which were sent to sanctuaries in Texas and Colorado.

"I'm happy with how it resolved itself," Brenner said, noting that his main goals were to have Alvarez reimburse the Humane Society and to ensure the situation isn't repeated. Alvarez has lost his license to keep exotic animals, Brenner said.

References

• Rapid City Journal

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