SC man fined $5,400 for neglecting horses

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A Summerville man has pleaded guilty to failing to care for animals after four horses were found starving and neglected in a pasture last month.

Dwight Benjamin McCloud pleaded guilty to five counts Thursday, and Berkeley County Magistrate Ava Bryant Ayers fined him the maximum penalty. McCloud faces two more charges that will be reduced to paying court costs if he complies with the fine.

McCloud was charged with three counts of failing to provide care for a diseased or injured animal, three counts of failure to provide humane treatment and one count of failure to provide adequate food and water.

Two horses were removed from McCloud’s care.

A prosecutor asked for the maximum fine, saying McCloud agreed to a plan for better care but hasn’t completed it.