A man scheduled to be sentenced on multiple counts of animal cruelty has died. Here’s what we know:
State v. Matthew Wayne Keel
Judge: Circuit Judge Timothy McCourt.
Lawyers: Anthony Sabatini for the defense and Assistant State Attorney Madison Kirkland for the prosecution.
Charges: According to Keel’s change of plea agreement, which he signed on April 3, he faced 23 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 20 counts of animal cruelty.
When was Keel scheduled to be sentenced? April 9.
What happened on that date? Because he was a no show in court, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
What was the agreed upon sentence? On April 3, Keel pleaded no contest pursuant to the agreement with this state. His sentencing was deferred until April 9. Keel, 55, agreed to serve 43 months in prison followed by two years of house arrest and two years of probation.
If the sentence was completed, the document indicates, Keel would only be charged with the first 10 counts; the remaining counts would be dismissed.
Any special conditions? Keel had agreed to serve 400 hours of community service. He also would not have been allowed to own, possess, care for or live in the same residence as any animals. And he would have been required to register with the Marion County Animal Abuse registry and pay restitution to the county’s animal services department.
Court: Ocala courts: Men accused of soliciting kids for sex online have been sentenced.
About the case: An animal control official went to Keel’s residence in the 5700 block of Northwest Sixth Street last year to investigate a dog fight. At the location, the animal official said, Keel refused to allow him to enter the residence.
The official said the odor was overwhelming. A search warrant was obtained for the residence.
A deputy accompanied the animal official to the residence. Inside, authorities said the conditions were deplorable, with feces and urine all over. Keel was arrested after he was interviewed by officials.
How did the defendant die? According to a Marion County Sheriff’s Office report, Keel was discovered deceased at the residence where the dogs had lived. Officials believe it may be a suicide.
In other court news:
State v. Scotty Eugene King & Brandon Michael Angevine
In February, a grand jury indicted Scotty Eugene King and Brandon Michael Angevine for sex-related offenses.
King, 29, is charged with two counts of sexual battery on a child under 12 and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation on a victim under 12. Angevine faces a charge of sexual battery on a child under 12.
If convicted by a jury, the men could face the death penalty. Lawyers at the State Attorney’s Office have reviewed both cases and decided not to seek the death penalty.
King’s lawyer is Brett Kocijan, a private attorney, and prosecuting the case is Assistant State Attorney Drew Brandies. Defending Angevine is Assistant Public Defender Chad Hutcheson; Assistant State Attorney Shanae Pickens is prosecuting the case.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Ocala, Florida courts: How did man accused of animal cruelty die?