Dozens of sick rabbits that were to be sold as Easter pets at a Roanoke flea market have been seized from a Botetourt County man with a history of animal care violations.

Botetourt County Animal Control officers confiscated 42 rabbits over the past few weeks from Jack Cassell's farm off U.S. 220 near Fincastle, according to documents filed in the Botetourt General District Court.

The rabbits were all found to be neglected and suffering from a skin disease caused by mites that can be transferred to humans, according to the court information.

The rabbits were intended to be sold at Happy's Flea Market in Roanoke, said county Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Jill Deegan.

According to court documents, Cassell, 81, appeared at a hearing before a district court judge March 3 to answer to two charges of animal neglect after animal control officers seized two rabbits from his farm last month.

A judge's ruling on the charges was postponed until April 2 pending a court order for Cassell to undergo a mental evaluation to determine whether he can continue to have animals on his farm.

Since the hearing, dozens more rabbits were seized this week from Cassell's property and found to be suffering from the same skin condition.

So far, no additional charges have been filed against Cassell.

The animals are being cared for at the Regional Center for Animal Control and Protection in Roanoke. They will be transferred this week to the Angels of Assisi facility in Botetourt County and be ready for adoption next month, according to the organization's Web site.

Cassell was convicted in 2006 for not caring properly for horses on his farm. He pleaded guilty that year to two counts of depriving an animal of food and water and agreed to reduce his herd of about 30 horses down to six.

Later that year, Cassell was found in contempt of court twice for ignoring a court order to discontinue horse breeding or have stallions on his property. He served a 20-day sentence under home electronic monitoring for one of the contempt charges.