Mason City man charged with animal neglect receives jail sentence

MASON CITY — A Mason City man who was charged with animal neglect after being found living in a minivan with 28 cats has entered into a plea agreement with prosecutors and been given a jail sentence.

64-year-old Andres Guilartes Martinez was arrested after Mason City police executed a search warrant on the minivan found on August 26th in the 700 block of 6th Southwest with Guilartes Martinez apparently sleeping inside the vehicle with numerous cats spotted. A complaint was filed with authorities three days earlier about a van near the intersection of 1st and North Monroe with about 15 to 30 cats living in it, with a possible lack of food and water and odor coming from the vehicle.

A criminal complaint states that one of the cats seized appeared to be seriously injured while another appeared to have a non-serious injury. Both of those cats were taken for medical treatment. Guilartes Martinez was charged with animal neglect with serious injury; animal neglect with injury; animal neglect with no injury; and three rabies vaccination violations.

During a plea change and sentencing hearing held on Monday in Cerro Gordo County court, Guilartes Martinez pleaded guilty to one count of animal neglect with serious injury or death, an aggravated misdemeanor. Prosecutors recommended a one-year jail sentence with all but 23 days suspended, an $855 fine suspended, one year probation, and a mental health evaluation and follow through with treatment.

District Associate Judge Karen Kaufman Salic agreed with the recommendation when sentencing Guilartes Martinez on Monday. A separate order also approved a motion by prosecutors to take protective custody and dispose of the pets that had previously been in Guilartes Martinez’s care.