For years, Ronald Albert Livermore, 67, has been driving around killing animals and trying to have sex with their corpses

OREGON -- A Prineville man arrested Monday on 31 wildlife-killing and weapons charges made his first court appearance on Tuesday and a judge reduced his bail to $150,000 a prosecutor said.

Ronald Albert Livermore, 67, who was sentenced to jail seven years ago in a string of wildlife killings, appeared in court by video hookup from the Jefferson County Jail, where he's being held, said Crook County Deputy District Attorney Errol LaRue.

Livermore was arraigned Tuesday on a district attorney's initial charges, called an information, which indicated Livermore is accused of killing two cows and two yearling calves on or about Dec. 7.

Crook County Circuit Judge Daniel Ahern set bail at $150,000 pending Livermore's return to court Wednesday afternoon for formal arraignment on a grand jury indictment, LaRue said.

For the past few months, Crook County sheriff’s deputies and Oregon State Police have been investigating a string of animal shootings in the rural county, said Sgt. James Savage.

Savage said deputies were able to gather enough information to obtain a search warrant for Livermore's home and vehicle.

The raid took place about 8:15 a.m. on Monday, turning up evidence linking Livermore to several counts of shooting yearling calves. He also was found to be in possession of several guns and homemade silencers.

Livermore was arrested and lodged at the Crook County Jail on two counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse, two counts of first-degree criminal mischief, seven counts of felon in possession of a firearm and 20 counts of unlawful possession of a silencer. His bail initial totaled $665,000, according to Savage, who said Prineville police also assisted in the ongoing investigation.

Back in 2008, Livermore, a self-proclaimed vegetarian, was charged with fatally shooting and wasting deer using an unregistered silencer.

He faced nearly two-dozen charges, and was sentenced to just over a year in jail under a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to nine of the 22 charges.

Livermore was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for eight dead deer and undergo a mental evaluation. In court, Livermore expressed remorse for his actions.

Oregon State Police Trooper Amos Madison said Livermore "admitted he doesn't eat meat, and he just liked to shoot animals. He'd drive around with a spotlight and when he'd see eyes, he'd shoot and drive on. "

Livermore also was charged in 2008 with attempted sexual abuse of an animal, though that was one of the charges dropped in his plea agreement. Savage said Monday it's believed Livermore had sexual contact with some of the recently killed animals as well, though they aware awaiting results of laboratory tests.

(KTVZ - Dec 23, 2015)