Bench warrant issued in cruelty to animals case

A Roland woman is facing a felony charge of cruelty to animals in Sequoyah County District Court after she allegedly abandoned several farm animals at a Muldrow residence, leaving them with no food or water.

Jennifer L. Walker, 48, was charged Nov. 9 and a bench warrant was issued for her arrest the same day, according to court records.

District Attorney Jack Thorp said if found guilty of the crime, it is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

Sequoyah County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Neighbors reported on the evening of Nov. 2 he went to conduct a welfare check on several farm animals after a reporting party believed a horse lying on the ground was believed to be dead.

Neighbors confirmed the horse was deceased, reporting both the horse’s back left and front left hoofs were reportedly caught in between an industrial-type plastic pallet. He reported he belived both the animal’s back and front left lower bone above the hoofs were broken and the horse had fallen on its side and laid there until it died.

The deputy noticed several other animals on the property, an Appaloosa colt, two large white dogs running at large, and two Shetland ponies with no food or water that had eaten all the bark off two trees that were located in their pen.

Neighbors found three dog pens, one contained a medium-sized Aussie dog; another had a white mother dog and five puppies; and the last one had two more Aussie dogs. He reported none of them had any food or water, according to the probable cause affidavit in the case.

A chicken coop was found west of the residence containing 19 laying hens with no food or water, along with one deceased chicken and another that couldn’t walk.

The deputy said there was no one at the residence but there was a no trespassing sign on the door reportedly left by Walker. The note stated Walker lived at the residence and if she felt threatened, she would “shoot first and maybe ask questions later, but that means you wouldn’t be here.” She also said that would mean they were trespassing and she would have them arrested. She also left both her cell and work number on the note.

Neighbors was able to leave a message with one of the numbers and the reporting party left fresh food and water for the animals. The deputy was also able to obtain some hay for the horses from Moffett Stockyards, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Neighbors received an order to remove the animals from Walker’s property after not hearing back from her. The animals were removed and placed into protective custody, and forfeited to the Sheriff’s Department.

Associate District Judge Kyle Waters has set Walker’s bond at $10,000.