A state House member from western Missouri has been convicted of misdemeanor animal abuse for the escape of his cattle from a pasture.
Republican Warren Love, of Osceola, was found guilty Thursday by a judge in St. Clair County. He is to be sentenced in November. Maximum penalties are a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Love says he is disappointed but not surprised. The St. Clair County prosecutor had said in court documents that Love had cattle in his custody and knowingly failed to provide adequate control of the animals.
Love took office in January. He joined fellow lawmakers last month in overriding Governor Jay Nixon's veto of legislation that included a change in Missouri's animal abuse and neglect law.