Robert and Jocelyn Silver, owners of Jocelyn’s Alpacas Ranch in the 20000 block of Parry Road, were indicted on two counts of felony animal neglect and 16 counts of misdemeanor animal neglect.
On Tuesday, a Polk County court ordered forfeiture of the seized animals.
The Silvers are due back in court next week.
A petition filed by Polk County said that the sheriff’s office had received complaints about mistreatment of a herd of alpacas on the 20-acre property. On Dec. 12 deputies obtained a warrant to enter the ranch accompanied by a licensed veterinarian to conduct a health check and provide the animals with emergency care.
The following day authorities entered the property and discovered dead alpacas and evidence that the entire herd was not being provided minimum care, the petition said.
On Dec. 23, a second warrant authorized the sheriff’s office to impound all alpacas on the property. Deputies, accompanied by another licensed veterinarian found 30 more dead alpacas and two more that had to be destroyed because they were unable to stand. A deputy interviewed Robert and Jocelyn Silver and cited them to appear in Polk County Circuit Court.
The Sheriff’s Office now has custody of 175 alpacas that have cost more than $10,000 to care for, the petition said.
The Silvers were indicted by a grand jury on Jan. 15.
John Kincaid, animal control officer for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, said in an affidavit that he was familiar with the property and had applied for a search warrant to conduct a health check on the herd on April 2, 2012.
Complaints by the Silvers’ neighbors brought the case to the attention of the sheriff’s office.
According to the affidavit, those neighbors are now suing the Silvers, claiming that their alpaca breeding operation hindered the enjoyment of their own property.
According to the affidavit, Kincaid spoke with the neighbor who described infrequent feedings and multiple deaths at the farm. The neighbor reported a baby alpaca that died and witnessing Jocelyn Silver flop the “lifeless, baby’s body over her arm (like a pocketbook) as she was trying to get the female alpaca back into the barn.” Jocelyn Silver dropped the baby alpaca, continued to escort the mother into the barn and then came back for the dead baby.
The neighbor also reported that the Silvers used a Kubota tractor to remove the dead animals, which she documented with photos and video, the affidavit said.
Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton said that the law enforcement investigation has concluded, but the prosecution stage is ongoing. Prosecutors will be seeking various sentences for the defendents as they have differing criminal histories. The sentences could range between probation and prison time.
“We’re seeking a sentence to hold the defendants accountable,” Felton said. “This is clearly a very serious crime. It’s very tragic circumstances for the animals.”
(Statseman Journal - Feb. 7, 2014)
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