The Brief A man who was accused of neglecting his exotic animals is speaking out after a judge ruled in his favor. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said this case is still an ongoing investigation. The man accused of neglecting his exotic animals is breaking his silence, saying the case altered his life. The backstory:Ben Alvarez, who was accused of mistreating and neglecting his animals on his Rio Verde property, shared his side of the story after negative messages online caused him to lose jobs. Ultimately, the judge ruled in Alvarez’s favor, finding that the sheriff’s office did not prove the animals were mistreated, and ordered they be returned.