A bench warrant has been issued for an Ocala man who pled Nolo-Contendere to dozens of charges of animal cruelty just over a year after 53 dogs were rescued from his home, where he kept them locked up in cages, stacked in rooms, and covered in their own feces and urine.
Matthew Keel was not present for his sentencing hearing scheduled for Wednesday, April 9. According to the court docket in the case, Judge Timothy T. McCourt issued a bench warrant for Keel’s arrest after his absence, as well as a waiver of rights and agreement to the plea deal.
According to court records, Keel is represented by Anthony F. Sabatini, an local attorney who serves as a Lake County Commissioner…