Latrobe man gets house arrest after pleading guilty to animal cruelty involving 17 animals

A Latrobe man will serve three months of house arrest and two years on probation after he pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge of animal cruelty.

According to court records, Andrew T. Pevarnik, 44, was charged in September after humane officers found 17 dead animals in a Derry Township property he had been evicted from several months earlier.

Police said Pevarnik was evicted from the mobile home in April. In June, 11 guinea pigs, five rats and a mouse were found by humane officers who entered the home after receiving complaints of strong odors of mildew, urine and feces.

The officers found the dead animals in cages and aquariums without food or water, according to court records.

Pevarnik was originally charged with 17 counts each of aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals. He was also charged with 34 counts of neglect for failing to properly feed, shelter and provide water to the animals.

In court on Thursday, Pevarnik pleaded guilty to just one felony count and prosecutors dismissed the remaining 67 charges.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani, in addition to ordering Pevarnik to serve terms of probation and house arrest also barred him from owning any animals during his period of supervision. The judge said Pevarnik will be subjected to random inspections by humane officers.