NEWTON FALLS, Ohio -  A Mesopotamia Township man was sentenced Thursday to five years of probation after pleading guilty to bestiality.

Ervin Miller, 28, appeared in Newton Falls Municipal Court, where he was also ordered to pay a $250 fine, undergo a mental health evaluation, and is prohibited from owning animals.

The charges stemmed from an October incident at Miller's Donley Road property, where he was accused of engaging in sexual conduct with several horses over ten years.

“This has been happening since Mr. Miller was 16 years old over a period of ten years with multiple horses I want to say at least nine plus,” Fabian Pike, the Chief Humane Officer of Trumbull County said.

Investigators said Miller did not own the horses but they lived on another property near his home. 

“It happened around midnight is what Mr. Miller has explained he said that he never even believed the individual ever knew that he had done it," Chief Pike said. 

Chief Pike said a family member reported the incident after they were worried about Millers mental health. 

An animal cruelty charge was dropped as part of a plea agreement.