BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The former Buffalo city employee who was convicted on animal cruelty charges is going to state prison.
Shannon Richardson will spend between 2 2/3 and years behind bars for running a dog fighting operation.
Richardson's defense attorney pleaded for leniency during sentencing Tuesday in state Supreme Court, but his client received none from the judge.
Richardson, a former cell block worker for Buffalo Police, was on paid administrative leave since his arrest in December 2013. He was finally terminated last month when he was convicted on six counts of animal abuse. Time Warner Cable News learned in court that for the past year, in addition to receiving his paycheck from the city, Richardson was also earning $30,000 per year at the Ford plant. But now he's behind bars, and animal rights advocates could not be happier.
"I think it's a start. The animals have no choice. They are the most innocent. It's gone on too long, too often," said Loreli DeJac, director of Passionate Citizens.
"We're a little surprised by the sentence, but as I indicated in court we're going to file an appeal. We're going to be asking for the sentence to be stayed. We're going to begin that process right away," defense attorney Jorge S. de Rosas said.
The defense asked Justice Christopher Burns for a stay Tuesday, but that request was denied.
Some lawyers who spoke to Time Warner Cable News said this was a stiff sentence for an animal cruelty case, something that animal rights advocates say they want to see more of.