RUMFORD - A District Court judge found a Bethel rancher guilty Wednesday of four counts of animal cruelty to his livestock last year.

Because all were Class D misdemeanor crimes, Larry G. Smith Sr., 62, of 46 Vernon St., could face less than a year in jail and pay up to a $2,000 fine on each conviction.

Judge John McElwee deferred sentencing until later. He also said Smith may have to reimburse costs that the Maine Society for the Protection of Animals of Windham incurred while caring for Smith's Belgian mare and pasture-born foal.

The state seized those animals about eight hours after the foal was born on Dec. 8 to protect them from dying due to exposure to the elements and other animals.

McElwee has yet to rule on Smith's petition for the return of the pair.

After the verdicts, prosecutor Richard Beauchesne smiled and shook the hand of his co-counsel, Meris Bickford, an attorney trained in equine matters.

Smith conferred with his attorney, John Jenness, whom he referred to as his "knight in shining armor" when talking with his three grandchildren seated behind him with their mother, Smith's daughter, Sarah Coswell of New Hampshire.

McElwee both praised and admonished Smith, who testified Wednesday for about 2½ hours. McElwee then said he found Smith untrustworthy compared to Bethel police officers who testified last month when the three-day trial began.

"I cannot accept, nor do I find you credible on a significant amount of testimony," McElwee told Smith.

"I find you extremely bright ... and I have no question that you have a great love of animals, but one of the principal focuses - certainly not the most important - of this case has been your reaction to the fact that you think you are the victim of a vendetta," McElwee said.

During his testimony, Smith accused neighbors Julie Kimball and Dale and Heather Buck, two Bethel policemen and Police Chief Al Carr of causing him problems. Smith also claimed they all lied when testifying last month.

Jenness also suggested that former Bethel animal control officer and Patrolman Donald McCormick - the man who summoned Smith - had a vendetta against Smith.

But McElwee later said to Smith, "The court doesn't find this other than in your testimony, which I disregard."

Smith, who had expected to be vindicated, appeared to take everything in stride.

Afterward, standing outside, he said he would downsize his livestock and strengthen the barn that McElwee said isn't structurally sound and hire an engineer to ensure its safety.

"They might take my horses, but they will not take me, my will, or my love for my family, and, hopefully, Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole, Chief Carr, and Bethel selectmen can rest knowing that they made a good man stronger today. What's that saying in Pennsylvania, 'Let's roll?' Well, let's roll," Smith said.

When chided by Coswell to tone down his rhetoric, Smith said he expected to go to jail and would speak his mind. He said he had served and fought in Vietnam, has incurable prostate cancer and diabetes.

"They won't let me die in peace. They can take my identity away, but they can't take me away from me. God bless the judge; he said he don't like the way I look. I told the truth, but he said the officers don't lie ..."