Michael Sean Kirkpatrick appeared before District Judge Paul Woodward and entered pleas of guilty to each of the 15 counts as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Kirkpatrick was ordered to serve seven years in Department of Corrections custody, with credit for time served. He also was ordered to pay court and jail costs, contribute $50 to the victims compensation fund. He was ordered to pay $841 in restitution on the first count of animal cruelty.
He was ordered to serve seven years in prison, pay court costs and contribute to the victims compensation fund on the remaining 13 animal cruelty counts. Kirkpatrick was sentenced to serve a year in county jail, pay court costs, contribute $30 to the victims compensation fund and pay a $100 mental health fee on the paraphernalia charge.
All counts are to run concurrently (aka at the same time rather than consecutively which would be one after the other).
According to an affidavit filed in the case, Garfield County Deputy Greg Schaer was notified March 25 of a possible case of animal abuse occurring at 605 5th and 314 5th, both in Kremlin. Schaer was notified by Deputy Sam Strecker, who took the initial report.
Strecker said he had been told there was no food or water in the fenced-in yard for four dogs, according to the affidavit. The reporting party said they had provided food and water prior to law enforcement arriving. The initial report stated the four dogs, at 605 5th, had been deprived of food and water for an unknown length of time, according to the affidavit. The dogs rib cages could be seen and they showed signs of emaciation.
The former resident of 605 S. 5th was identified as Kirkpatrick, and he was known to have access to and reside at 314 5th, according to the affidavit. Kirkpatrick claims ownership of all the dogs at both residences.
Schaer located two dogs at 314 5th on the outside of the residence, according to the affidavit. Both dogs were chained to objects, limiting their movements around the property, and were "noticeably thin from a distance with visible rib and hip bones."
Strecker was told by a veterinarian both dogs displayed muscle loss as a result of an improper diet, according to the affidavit. Both dogs had food and water at the time of Schaer's investigation.
Schaer noted in the affidavit he could hear an unknown number of dogs inside the residence at 314 5th during his investigation.
The four dogs at 605 5th also showed signs of muscle loss as a result of an improper diet, according to the veterinarian. Schaer noted in the affidavit the four dogs had "visibly noticeable rib cages, arched spinal columns and hip bones."
On March 28, Schaer applied for and received a search warrant for animals at both residences.
Members of Garber Community Improvement Association's Pet Task Force, Schaer, Strecker and Deputy Dariel Momsen located 13 dogs in the rear of the residence at 605 5th, nine more dogs since the initial investigation, according to the affidavit. Another dog was located in the rear of the property at 314 5th.
Schaer was given permission to search the residence of 314 5th by the owner and noted an "overpowering distinct ammonia odor" associated with animal urine. Schaer said the odor of feces and urine was so powerful it could be tasted.
The residence had no running water, and there were no food or water dishes, according to the affidavit. Both the top and bottom floors of the residence were covered with feces.
Two of dogs were too weak to stand and a couple of their eyes were completely matted shut and were unable to see at all.
A veterinary report on the 14 animals stated all would have endured a process to become as thin, malnourished and dehydrated as they were, according to the affidavit. The process would not have occurred in one or two days, but would have taken an extended period of time.
Scaher learned April 1 that Kirkpatrick was in Enid and trying to leave the area, possibly the state, because of his case, according to the affidavit. Schaer also was told Kirkpatrick had two other dogs with him.
Schaer found Kirkpatrick at Cornell and 4th in Enid, according to the affidavit. Schaer found a metal pipe in the console of Kirkpatrick's vehicle.
A GoFundMe page, at https://www.gofundme.com/jmwb9guc, has been set up to offset the cost for the care of the animals seized. It has raised $2,425 of its $3,000 goal.
(Enid News - May 12, 2016)
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