MASSACHUSETTS -- Probable cause was found against an Argentine native who is facing an animal cruelty charge for the conditions he was keeping a flock of chickens in, many of which had open sores and bleeding.
Francisco D. Silva, 56, of 15 Irene St., is charged with animal cruelty, violating the state sanitary code, unlawful wiretapping and registering a motor vehicle improperly to avoid taxes and premiums. Probable cause was found Friday in Dudley District Court, and Mr. Silva’s arraignment is slated for Oct. 3.
According to police Sgt. Thomas V. Ralph’s report, he, Animal Control Officer Michelle Lafleche and Assistant Animal Control Officer Jose Herrera responded to Mr. Silva’s address to check a report of animal abuse and neglect.
The chickens were in a small screened-in area in a steel shed, which was full of old garbage bags. The doors were closed and there was no ventilation, no light, no clean water, no food and no laying bins for the chickens, the police report states.
The chickens were extremely dirty and many of them had open sores and were bleeding. The chickens were removed and transported by animal control to the town facility, according to the police report.
During the removal of the chickens, Mr. Silva yelled he was recording the animal control officers and that he had recorded the assistant animal control officer swearing and he was going to report him. The recording was done secretly and without their consent and knowledge, which is a violation of the state’s wiretap statute, the police report states.
In addition, the officer saw gray water coming from a connection to a washing machine that was being discharged on the ground, which is in alleged violation of the state’s sanitation code.
Furthermore, a vehicle on the property had a Florida registration valid until October 2014, even though Mr. Silva has been living at the Webster residence since January.
While he has no criminal history in the commonwealth, Mr. Silva has a number of alias names, according to the FBI, and in the early 1980s was charged by U.S. immigration officials with false claim to U.S. citizenship and deportation proceedings were begun.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been contacted and is attempting to determine the status of the case, according to the police report.
(Telegram - September 9, 2012)
