A Marlborough man has been arrested and is facing a litany of animal cruelty charges after nearly 100 dead animals were found at his rented Sturbridge, Massachusetts property. According to NBC Boston, the man identified as Andrew Sebastiano, was arraigned yesterday facing 192 charges, including animal cruelty, subsequent offense and animal cruelty by custodian, subsequent offense.
"This is an extremely disturbing case of animal cruelty, none like I have seen in my career," Sturbridge Police Chief Earl Dessert told NBC Boston. The MSPCA Law Enforcement collaborated with local authorities in the case, with Director Chris Schindler stating the inability for earlier intervention: "This was a devastating scene, and we wish that we had been able to intercede in the weeks before these animals perished but, unfortunately, the call came too late." The array of dead animals found included pigs, rabbits, chickens, geese, and ducks.
Sebastiano, who allegedly left the property in February, was previously found guilty of animal cruelty charges in 2021 and sentenced to probation. During his most recent arrest, an adult dog was seized and is currently in the care of MSPCA-Angell. WCVB reports no updates have been released regarding the condition of the dog.
In light of Sebastiano's history and the recency of the charges, MSPCA Law Enforcement's Schindler argues for a stronger legal framework to combat animal cruelty crimes in Massachusetts. "Our current legal framework for addressing animal cruelty in Massachusetts is long overdue for additional tools, beyond the current statutes," Schindler told NBC Boston. A proposed law backed by the MSPCA-Angell suggests a minimum five-year ban on animal ownership for those convicted of animal cruelty, potentially extending longer at the court's discretion.
Owing to the serious nature of these allegations, Sebastiano has been ordered held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for April 1. Details regarding his legal representation have not been made clear at this point.
