Chancy Charles Ralls, 75, appeared Thursday before Ravalli County Justice of the Peace Robin Clute and was released on his own recognizance with the condition he doesn’t bring new animals home.
In March, sheriff’s deputies were joined by volunteers to capture and remove yaks, Watusi cattle, sheep, donkey, horse, chickens and ducks from Ralls’ home on Blodgett View Road west of Hamilton.
The animals have since found temporary homes in a variety of locations.
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| A pair of yaks and several long-horned Watusi were moved to the Ravalli County Fairgrounds after being seized from Ralls' home near Hamilton. |
Court documents filed in the case said Ralls was initially approached by Ravalli County sheriff’s deputies in February following a number of reports that his animals were being mistreated.
Ralls told the deputy then he had 10 to 15 cows and 10 sheep, which he fed five bales of hay every other day. Ralls said he purchased his hay exclusively from Lakeland Feed.
At that time, Ralls refused to allow the deputy to inspect his animals.
From the roadway, the deputy counted 21 cattle. He contacted Lakeland Feed, who told him that Ralls only purchased five bales of hay each week.
The deputy was told the cattle alone should be fed five bales of hay every day.
The deputy county attorney said the county initially agreed to a deferred prosecution agreement with Ralls, with the stipulation that he find new homes for his animals.
Under the terms of the agreement, Ralls was supposed to reimburse the county for its costs of caring for the animals and provide documentation they had legally been transferred to someone else by May 22.
When the county didn’t receive that, it opted to move forward with prosecution of the case.
(Ravalli Republic - May 31, 2014)
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