Miller County prosecutors have formally charged three people who were arrested last month for alleged mistreatment of a goat and multiple dogs.
William Lake Evans, 25, is facing a charge of felony animal cruelty and a charge of misdemeanor animal cruelty. Victoria Anderson, 24, and Tyler Blaine Green, 21, are each facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Documents recently filed in Miller County show that Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell filed the charges Friday.
Anderson and Green, who are husband and wife, were allegedly sharing a house with Evans in the 300 block of Laurel Street in Texarkana, Ark., but moved out when electric service to the residence was cut off, according to a probable cause affidavit. Animal services began receiving complaints that dogs chained outside the home did not have adequate food and water.
Notices left on the door by animal control officials were removed but the occupants of the home did not respond as directed. On Sept. 22, animal control officers executed a search warrant on the home. Inside they found a sick and injured goat too weak to stand and lying in its own droppings, as well as two dogs. None of the animals in the hot, unventilated house had access to food or water, according to the affidavit. Two other dogs which appeared to be suffering from neglect were seized from a fenced area around the home.
The goat died the same day while under the care of a veterinarian. Green allegedly made contact with animal control personnel the day the animals were seized. Green allegedly acknowledged they were aware of the poor condition of the animals but felt it “was not their problem” as the animals either belonged to or had been brought to the residence by Evans.
Evans allegedly made contact with animal control staff as well, claiming he had food for the animals and was treating their physical ailments with remedies he’d found on the internet because he could not afford to take them to a vet.
Anderson and Green are currently free on bond. Evans, who is currently on parole for an unrelated offense, is being held in the Miller County jail. Felony animal cruelty to a dog, cat or horse is punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Misdemeanor animal cruelty is punishable by one day to one year in a county jail and a fine of $150 to $1,000 and community service.
