Collin James Lovejoy and Timothy Randall Schulz will never be able to repay the victims of their October animal shooting spree, but a prison sentence wasn’t the immediate answer, said Placer County Judge Colleen Nichols.

Nichols sentenced Lovejoy and Schulz on May 16 to five years probation and time in county jail for pleading guilty to multiple felony counts involving animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm.

The two were in an Auburn courtroom Friday afternoon for their sentencing. The charges stem from an October shooting spree in rural Auburn during which they shot and killed several animals in the area and shot out the lights of multiple residences.

Lovejoy, 18, was sentenced to five years probation and a suspended six-year, eight-month state prison sentence. Lovejoy will automatically serve the prison sentence if he violates his probation. He still has time remaining of a one-year county jail term.

Lovejoy had pleaded guilty to nine counts of animal cruelty, and was facing a maximum eight years and four months in state prison.

Schulz, 18, had pleaded no contest to three counts of cruelty to animals, and was facing a maximum one-year sentence in jail.

Schulz immediately began serving half of a 270-day county jail term. The second half can be served through alternative sentencing. After serving his jail time, he will then begin his five-year probation sentence.

Nichols said she elected to have both men serve a probation term in an effort to rehabilitate them. She said she believed a direct prison sentence for Lovejoy heightened the probability of increased criminal activity in the future.

Nichols said she hopes both will serve community service at an animal shelter, provided a shelter will have them.

Both are also ordered to pay more than $12,000 in restitution to the victims of their October shooting spree. The amount may change as some victims have ongoing veterinary expenses.

Schulz and his parents arrived in the courtroom. All three, wearing black, sat silently until Schulz was called. His mother remained quiet but tearful as Nichols told both defendants that their behavior was “appalling.”

“The behavior of these young men is inexplicable,” Nichols said.

Schulz indicated that he was ready to begin his county jail sentence Friday. As he was sitting down after being cuffed, he mouthed, “I love you” to his parents.

It was not apparent whether any family members or friends of Lovejoy were in the courtroom. Lovejoy sat silently during proceedings except to offer a yes ma’am to Nichols.

Several victims and animal rights supporters were in the courtroom.

Pascual Duenas of Lincoln said his bull, used for breeding, was shot and killed. He will receive $1,000 in restitution, but he said it doesn’t truly cover the cost of his loss.

“I think on my side, it’s not fair but you have to accept the law and what the judge decides,” Duenas said.

Rosemarie Frieborn, a representative with Friends of Placer County Animals, said she thought the ruling was as fair as possible.

“I think it was beneficial to all parties,” Frieborn said. “I think everybody came out of this not a winner but all made whole by the judge’s decision.”