The man who used a rifle to kill and wound pets and farm animals in rural Lincoln in 2008 was sentenced March 4 to six years and eight months in state prison.

Collin Lovejoy, 20, had received a suspended prison sentence for a felony conviction of cruelty to animals in May 2008, according to Art Campos, public information officer for the Placer County District Attorney, but Lovejoy did not “stay within the law while on probation” for that conviction.

Lovejoy violated the terms of his probation twice in drug-related incidents in 2009, according to Campos, which caused Placer County Superior Court Judge Colleen Nichols to send Lovejoy “straight to prison.”

In May 2008, Lovejoy pleaded no contest to eight counts of cruelty to animals, and was sentenced by Nichols to a one-year jail sentence and was placed on formal probation for five years with the understanding that any violation of the probation terms could send him to prison, according to Campos.

Last summer, Lovejoy was stopped by a law enforcement officer who reported finding drug paraphernalia in Lovejoy’s vehicle, according to Campos, and admitting violating his probation in a court hearing.

On Nov. 15, Lovejoy was arrested for another drug offense, and admitted the violation in court Jan. 29, according to Campos.

Prosecutor Jeff Wilson of the Placer County District Attorney’s Office said Lovejoy failed to take advantage of a break given by the judge when she had suspended his prison sentence.

“Judge Nichols gave him a chance in this case, but the defendant proved that he wasn’t worthy of that chance,” Wilson said.

The News Messenger asked Wilson if he thought the sentence of six years and eight months was tough enough for the crime committed by Lovejoy.

“Given the sentencing laws that are outlined in the penal code, I believe the sentence is appropriate and well-deserved under the circumstances in the case,” Wilson said.