Lewiston man gets jail for probation violation after animal cruelty charge

AUBURN — A Lewiston man was sentenced to 90 days in jail Wednesday for violating his probation by being charged with animal cruelty.

When Paul Lauze, 35, was charged last month with animal cruelty he was on a two-year probation for a Dec. 15, 2015, domestic violence assault against his now-fiancee Samantha Bell. The animal cruelty charge came after authorities in March seized 64 pets from the Howe Street apartment he shares with Bell.

Bell is facing five counts of animal cruelty and one charge of disorderly conduct that stems from her alleged actions the day the animals were taken.

Lauze’s lawyer, Verne Paradie, said the state had asked for six months in jail for the probation violation, but the Androscoggin County Superior Court judge agreed to half of that length. Lauze’s probation has also been amended to prevent him from possessing animals, Paradie said.

Lauze and Bell are awaiting trial on the animal cruelty charges.

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Paul Lauze, left, and his fiancee, Samantha Bell, listen in 8th Distrcit Court in Lewiston last month during a hearing regarding the 64 animals that were seized from their Lewiston apartment. On Wednesday, Lauze was sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating probation after he was charged with animal cruelty.