STERLING, Colo. (AP) - A Logan County rancher whose property had 79 cattle carcasses on it has been convicted of 14 counts of animal cruelty.

Jurors convicted Gilbert Dean Schuman, 57, of Schuman Cattle LLC on Friday. He is scheduled to be sentenced March 30.

Sheriff’s officials arrested him last year after finding the carcasses on his land north of Sterling. Authorities also seized 14 cows and two calves that they described as emaciated or in poor condition.

The Sterling Journal-Advocate reports that defense attorney Daniel Murphy had argued that prosecutors failed to prove Schuman knowingly harmed the animals. He said Schuman had bought some of his cattle in less than prime condition and that the winter of 2009-2010 caught many ranchers by surprise.

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