Florida: Sandra Tanksley, 35, accused of starving her 11 horses; takes yet another trip to county lockup

FLORIDA -- Eleven rescued horses plus one stray Shetland pony have added up to big bills for the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society this holiday season.

So far, more than $8,000 has been spent on the animals, most of which were confiscated last month from land up in the north part of the county.

"We kept getting multiple calls about horses," said Mary Rudder, head of animal control and adoption at PAWS. "They were all on different properties. "Some were emaciated. Some looked good."

On Tuesday, a 35-year-old Holt woman was charged on one count of cruelty to animals. According to a spokesman from the Florida Department of Agriculture, she had deprived the horses of necessary sustenance.

She was arrested by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office on a warrant from the Department of Agriculture. The state agency got involved after receiving complaints from PAWS about the condition of some of her horses.

One horse in particular - an older mare named Homework - was particularly emaciated, according to reports.

The animals were being kept in a field that was bare of grass due to the season and the drought. A small quantity of hay on the ground was littered with feces, the report said.

Most of the horses - including the one in the worst condition - are Welsh ponies, though a few are full-size horses.

Rudder said an individual living on the properties where the horses were kept was supposed to be caring for them, but hadn't been.

PAWS is awaiting a judge's ruling on whether ownership of the horses will be transferred to the agency, which would make them available for adoption.

Rudder said they have been getting calls from folks wanting to adopt the horses, all of which are "fat and happy" after weeks of care.

In addition to feed, all of the animals required bloodwork, a veterinary examination and work on their hooves.

Mixed in with the bunch is a friendly little Shetland pony who was taken in after turning up repeatedly in a Baker resident's yard.

Two of the confiscated horses are at PAWS in Fort Walton Beach, while the rest are being cared for at the shelter's north county facilities.

The agency has been helped by Farm and Garden World in Laurel Hill. The store allowed them to set up an account to get hay and feed, as needed, and donated money to the account.

"I believe in helping people," said Marie Davis, who manages Farm and Garden World. "I believe in helping animals."

"People don't realize when they get this cute little animal and this cute little animal grows up and they just throw it out," she added. "It's really sad. I just thank God every day for PAWS. They're fantastic."

 

ARREST INFORMATION:
Full Name: Sandra Renee Tanksley
Gender: Female
Birthdate: 01/30/1981
Height: 5'04"
Weight: 135 lbs
Hair Color: BLOND/STRAWBERRY
Eye Color: BLUE
Arrest Age: 35
Arrest Date: 12/20/2016
Arresting agency: Okaloosa County, Florida
Time: 2:40 PM
Total Bond: $1850
Charges:
#1 CONSERVATION-ANIMALS: TORMENT DEPRIVE MUTILATE KILL
STATUTE: 828.12-1
BOND: $1500

#2 HOLD / SANTA ROSA COUNTY / FTA / UNLAWFUL CONFINEMENT OR ABANDONMENT OF ANIMAL
STATUTE: Hold
BOND: $350

 

(NWF Daily News - Dec 22, 2016)

Florida: Sandra Tanksley, 31, arrested on methamphetamine charges

FLORIDA -- The Walton County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday arrested Sandra Tanksley, 31, and James Young, 48, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., on methamphetamine drug charges.

The WCSO investigation began after a state probation officer requested deputies to assist in a routine residence check occupied by Young who was serving probation.

The probation officer discovered a plastic bag containing a white substance in Young’s pocket. WCSO vice/narcotics investigators observed the probation officer conduct a field-test of the substance and determined it was possibly methamphetamines.

A glass pipe consistent with commonly used methods for smoking illegal narcotics was also located inside the residence.

After a probable cause search warrant was obtained and executed, deputies recovered what appeared to be approximately 100 grams of methamphetamine oil, 100 grams of pseudoephedrine, and other ingredients and drug paraphernalia commonly used with production or use of methamphetamines.

Young and Tanksley were each charged with two counts of trafficking more than 14 grams of methamphetamine, a first-degree felony; and one count of production of methamphetamine, a second-degree felony.

They were booked into the Walton County Jail in DeFuniak Springs.

(WJHG - Feb 16, 2012)

VARIOUS ARRESTS:

July 3, 2009
Charge:
DRIVE WHILE LIC SUSP 1ST OFF. STATUTE: 322.34(2a) ( M)

December 11, 2009
Charges
#1 BATT LEO. STATUTE: 784.07-2b. BOND: $2000
#2 POCS W/O SCRIPT. STATUTE: 893.13-6a. BOND: $2500
#3 POP. STATUTE: 893.147-1. BOND: $500
#4 RAWOV. STATUTE: 843.02. BOND: $500
#5 OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT-SWANNEE CO FTA/DWLSR. STATUTE: 901.04.
BOND: $500

June 8, 2011
Charge:
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT. STATUTE: 901.04 ( N)

February 16, 2012
Charges:
#1 DRUGS-PRODUCE MFG METHAQUALONE OR MECLOQUALONE DERIV SCHED I. STATUTE: 893.13(1A1) ( F). BOND: $10,000
NOTES: PRODUCE METHAMPHETAMINE
#2 AMPHETAMINE-TRAFFIC OR METHAMPHETAMINE 14 GRAMS OR OVER
STATUTE: 893.135(1F1) ( F). BOND: $10,000
#3 AMPHETAMINE-TRAFFIC OR METHAMPHETAMINE 14 GRAMS OR OVER
STATUTE: 893.135(1F1) ( F). BOND: $10,000

 

May 8, 2012
Charge:
VIOLATION OF PROBATION (VOP), RAWV, POSSESSION OF COCAINE. STATUTE: 948.06

April 8, 2013
Charge:
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT/WALTON CO SO/BURGLARY UNOCCUPIED DWELLING, UNARMED. STATUTE: 901.04. BOND: $5,000

April 30, 2014
Charge:
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT. STATUTE: 901.04 (N N)

January 3, 2016
Charge:
OPIUM OR DERIV-POSSESS. STATUTE: 893.13.1a3 (F M). BOND: $5,000

October 8, 2016
Charge:
OUT-OF-COUNTY WARRANT. STATUTE: 901.04 (N N). BOND: $2,000