A Suffolk man has been found guilty in Suffolk Circuit Court on 27 charges of animal abuse.

Jacob Richard Romes Chappell, 26, was arrested Oct. 10 following an investigation that began in July. He was found guilty Thursday of 16 counts of animal cruelty and 11 counts of failure to care for animals.

During the investigation, Animal Control responded to a residence in the 5800 block of Mineral Spring Road for a welfare check on the dogs, a city press release stated at the time of his arrest.

During the preliminary investigation in July, a deceased dog was found inside a pen next to the residence, along with a dog that was experiencing a heat-related health emergency and was barely able to stand, the release stated. There was no water or shelter in the pen, and the animal was seized and taken to a local veterinarian.

The body of the deceased dog was sent for a necropsy to determine the cause of death.

Additional dogs in other pens at the residence had little to no shelter on concrete or dirt floors and limited access to water during extreme heat conditions, the release stated.

Chappell’s sentencing is set for April 5.