PORTAGE | A jury deliberated an hour and a half Friday morning before returning to find Jackson Township resident James Miller guilty on two counts of neglecting his horses by not providing adequate food and water.

While each of the misdemeanor counts carries a potential of a year in jail, Deputy Prosecutor Chris Lerner said he will ask for a few days behind bars because the county already has been responding to the problem for 10 years. Sentencing was set for Thursday.

Lerner intends to ask for a period of probation, during which time Miller, 63, would not be allowed to own horses.

The two horses subjected to the neglect have been in foster care since Sept. 8 and Lerner intends to ask Porter Superior Judge Julia Jent to take ownership away from Miller. Others have inquired about taking custody of the animals.

Lerner told jurors Thursday that Porter County Animal Control received complaints from Miller's neighbors, which led to the seizure of the two horses.

Porter County Animal Control Director Judy Bonaventura said she checked to see whether the horses had food and "it made me sick to see them try to reach the grass on that side of the fence." She was describing tall grass on the outside of the horses' pen.

Defense attorney Arnold Coons said Miller fed the horses in a different manner than commonly accepted.

"Is it criminal conduct or is it simply a different way of doing business that flies in the way of political correctness?" Coons asked.