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Highlands Today

Animal Abuser Sentenced To 30 Months In State Prison

ENTERED PLEAS PRIOR TO START OF TRIAL

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Brad Dickerson

Published: January 13, 2009

SEBRING - Animal Abuser Sentenced To 30 Months In State Prison
A local man charged with battery and animal cruelty in reference to the beating of a Sebring woman and her pet pig was sentenced to 30 months in state prison on Monday.

John Patrick Thrift Sr., 48, of 4502 U.S. 98, entered pleas of no contest to assault, battery, a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief and cruelty to animals. His case was set to go to trial this week.

A plea of no contest has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose, according to www.definitions.uslegal.com.

The charges stem from a July 20 incident, where deputies with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 4800 block of U.S. 98, in Lorida, on a battery complaint.

The victim, a 63-year-old woman, told law enforcement Thrift had come to her ranch while intoxicated and caused approximately $1,140 in damage. He then knocked the victim to the ground three times, with the third time rendering her unconscious.

At that point, Thrift reportedly entered a hog pen and attacked the victim's pet pig, Wilbur. The animal was frothing white foam from the mouth and bleeding as a result of the attack, according to the arrest report. He died a few days later.

National attention was brought to the case courtesy of an article in the Oct. 13 edition of the National Enquirer.

The arrest and subsequent charges filed against Thrift were profiled as part of an ongoing series called "Lock 'Em Up," which looks at cases of animal abuse from across the country.

The local state attorney's office received hundreds of letters from readers across the country in reference to the Enquirer story.

Highlands Today reporter Brad Dickerson can be reached at (863) 386-5838 or bdickerson@highlandstoday.com

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