A Modesto man accused of running a large-scale puppy mill and abusing dozens of dogs faces up to four years in local state prison after a Stanislaus County jury convicted him of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty following a lengthy trial.
Nicholas Dean Baugh, 42, was found guilty last week of four felony counts of animal cruelty involving two dogs and one misdemeanor count of failing to provide proper care to more than 130 dogs, according to court records. Jurors acquitted Baugh of several other felony animal-cruelty counts tied to individual dogs.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 13, after being continued to allow probation officials to prepare a sentencing report, a routine step following a jury trial…