KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The man found with over two dozen exotic animals in his Kent County home—including some that were neglected or dead—learned his sentence Wednesday.
Michael Thomas Lawton was sentenced to two years probation. He is not allowed to own any animals during this time.
He pleaded no contest to one count of attempted cruelty to 10 or more animals but less than 25 animals back in March.
Another charge of cruelty to 10 or more animals but less than 25 animals, which is a felony, was dismissed.
The animals were found in his Gaines Township home in October 2023. A total of 27 exotic animals—boa constrictors, pythons, corn snakes, tree snakes, tarantulas, a Pacman frog and a tegu—were recovered from the home. An additional 10 snakes were found dead.
Some of the animals were taken to John Ball Zoo, while others were taken to N&N Exotic Reptile Rescue in Grand Rapids for treatment.
Nicole Brandes and Neil Hough with N&N Rescue showed 13 ON YOUR SIDE the small containers the animals had been living in that were filled with feces. The animals were almost all battling respiratory illnesses and they were infested with blood-sucking mites.
Brandes and Hough said the animals were making "absolutely amazing progress."
"We've been giving them the care that they should have had from the start. Really, just doing that, along with the medications and the info that we get from our vet, we follow that and within a month, usually the reptile is fully turned around if it's not too late. So it's really just giving them the care that they really need," Hough said.
N&N Rescue said that the animals taken from the home will be adopted out once they're healthy enough to do so.
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