A western Nebraska rancher convicted of letting wild horses and burros starve has been released on parole. Jason Meduna was released in December
Meduna was convicted in January 2010 of 145 counts of animal cruelty. Meduna was sentenced to 40 months-to-10 years in prison, and served a little more than 21 months.
Before Meduna's release, authorities inspected the residence where Meduna will be living.
As part of his sentence, Meduna can't own, possess or live with livestock for 30 years.
Meduna owned the 3-Strikes mustang ranch south of Alliance, Nebraska where many of the horses and burros were found emaciated and suffering from a variety of ailments in 2009. Dozens of animals were found dead.
According to the 3-Strikes Ranch Web site, Meduna trained BLM mustangs that had been repeatedly passed over for purchase or adoption. Meduna had acquired more than 210 wild horses and burros since 2007 according to a BLM spokesperson.
BLM investigators removed one adopted horse from the ranch prior to Meduna's arrest and as the investigations continue, the horses remained at the ranch under the care of volunteers.
After Meduna was sentenced to prison, new homes were found for the surviving horses and burros.