Sallisaw man sentenced on animal cruelty charge

A Sallisaw man charged with a felony count of cruelty to animals after he allegedly punched one of his dogs repeatedly, in January of this year, has been sentenced in Sequoyah County District Court.

Travis W. McWilliams, 44, was formally charged on August 21 and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day. He received a $10,000 bond and following a Sept. 11 felony disposition docket, received a five-year suspended sentence and a $1,000 fine.

Sallisaw Police officer Lalita Armer reported she received information from a reporting party regarding McWilliams and his animals after a relative of the reporting party’s installed cameras on their home to collect evidence involving McWilliams and a pit bull.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case, the videos reportedly showed the pit bull allegedly charging the relative, and another showed a man held up against his vehicle by the dog with nowhere to go.

The report states Mc-Williams had allegedly been cited three times for his dog(s) and the dogs continued to be out loose.

McWilliams also could be seen in the video punching his pit bull with his fist, allegedly injuring the animal.