Georgia: Man accused of animal cruelty after dead horses found on property says he is innocent

GEORGIA -- A man trying to clear his name after four dead horses and several emaciated others were found on his property is speaking to CBS46 News about the incident.

Branden Fulton was arrested after the horses were discovered on his property off Butner Road and Camp Creek Parkway in Fulton County, about 15 miles southwest of downtown Atlanta.

 

Fulton was released from jail on $75,000 bond. CBS46 News was told by police that Fulton will have an ankle monitor and has to get rid of any animals he has.

The malnourished horses were taken to a rescue facility but Fulton says he is going to try everything in his power to get them back.

"This is me and this is all I have," said Fulton. "My love for horses is.....They come before me."

Fulton says he bought the land off Butner Road earlier this year so he could take care of horses. But his dreams were crushed when animal control came in and accused him of animal cruelty. Four were found dead while eight were badly malnourished.

His attorney believes authorities arrested the wrong man.

 

"That could quite possibly be the most inaccurate thing I've head in a long time," said Fulton's Attorney, Abena Abayomi-Rogers. "I'm a little baffled that animal control didn't take the time to have a conversation with Mr. Fulton. He takes in horses that have been abused and he nurses them back to health."

CBS46 News asked Abayomi-Rogers about the four horses found dead on the property.

"You have horses crossing back and forth," she said.

Fulton and Abayomi-Rogers are building a case to prove the horses don't actually belong to him. They believe the remains may have been placed on the property or may have been there before he bought the land.

"Without being specific, there are people in the community that aren't so happy about the fact that he purchased the land and what i'm hoping is our investigation will prove that," said Abayomi-Rogers. "We've been working to get a hold of the property owner next to him who, officials say, called animal control.

 

That same property is where authorities responded to in 2013 and charged the property owner at that time with 14 counts of animal cruelty.

Fulton was released from jail on $75,000 bond. His case will be back in court August 3.

(CBS46 - July 23, 2016)

Earlier:

• Georgia: Brandon Fulton, 35, continues to abuse and kill animals. Will they finally do something this time??!