LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- A former western Nebraska ranch owner who got up to 10 years in prison for 145 counts of animal cruelty can get more animals when he gets out of prison.

The Nebraska Court of Appeals said in a ruling issued Tuesday that Jason Meduna could not be barred from having animals. The court says the Legislature hasn't authorized judges to hand down such sentence provisions.

The court otherwise upheld Meduna's convictions. He was sentenced in February.

Meduna owned the 3-Strikes mustang ranch 22 miles south of Alliance, where many of the 211 horses and 11 burros were found emaciated and suffering from a variety of ailments. A total of 74 horses and burros were found dead at the ranch.

Copyright 2011 The AP.