Man sentenced for animal abuse

HILLSBORO, Mo. -- A St. Louis area man has been sentenced to four months in the Jefferson County jail after pleading guilty to of misdemeanor animal abuse in the deaths of four horses.

In exchange for the plea, felony animal abuse charges on Thursday were dropped against Michael Chiorttino, 43, of Kirkwood.

He was arrested a year ago after animal rescue crews discovered four dead horses on his farm near House Springs. Four other horses suffered from severe malnutrition.

Authorities said at the time that the hourses' only water source was a small pond that had frozen just before the animals were discovered.