Prosecutors formally charge three in case of abused dogs, goat
Animal cruelty charges have been formally filed in Miller County against three people accused of mistreatment involving a goat and dogs.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell signed off Friday on felony and misdemeanor charges against William Lake Evans, 25, and misdemeanor charges only against Victoria Anderson, 24, and Tyler Blaine Green, 21. All three were arrested last month and later released on $15,000 bonds.
Green and Anderson remain free but jail records show Evans, who was on parole at the time of his arrest on the animal-related charges, is being held in Miller County custody for Arkansas parole officials.
Animal control first visited the house at 309 Laurel St. on Sept. 18 in response to an emergency call about the animals not having food and water, according to a search warrant affidavit signed by Animal Control Officer Jackie Mullins that was used to create the following account. They observed a brown-and-white female pit bull whose ribs, spine and pelvic bones were visible. A smaller dog of unknown breed appeared in “less than adequate condition.”
There was no food and little water.
A notice to contact animal control officials within eight hours was left on the door, and repeated attempts were made to contact Anderson, whose name is listed on the home’s water service account. Animal control officers returned Sept. 21. The notices left on the door had been removed, and attempts to contact Anderson were unsuccessful. Officers could see there were other animals in the house and that there was no electricity. They observed a goat, laboring to breathe and unable to stand, lying in its own waste.
The following day, animal
control officers and a member of the Texarkana, Ark., Police Department executed a search warrant. Officers removed the ailing goat and used bolt cutters to enter a locked room, where two more dogs were found. The goat died that night while under veterinary care.
Green allegedly contacted Texarkana Animal Care and Adoption the day of the search. The affidavit alleges that Mullins called Green and could hear him speaking with Anderson while on the phone. Green allegedly acknowledged that he knew the animals were in the house, knew of their poor condition but “felt it was not their problem.”
Green allegedly told Mullins the animals belong to Evans, the couple’s housemate. Mullins spoke to Evans the day of the search as well. Evans allegedly told Mullins he had food for the animals and knew they were in need of care. Evans allegedly claimed he was treating the animals with remedies he’d found on the internet because he couldn’t afford a vet and that he was planning to move them to another location.
According to an earlier interview with Animal Services Director Charles Lokey, the health of the dogs is improving.
The misdemeanor animal cruelty charge pending against all three defendants is punishable by a fine of $150 to $1,000, up to a year in the county jail and community service hours. The felony charge pending against Evans is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com