A judge on Friday awarded custody of 185 animals found living in filthy conditions without food or water in Van Zandt County to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas.
Richard Anthony Delfeld Jr., 53, was also charged with felony injury to a disabled person after authorities found 63-year-old James Helvey living in a home on the property with no food or electricity.
Helvey, who was found unconscious on the property, was taken to a Tyler hospital where he was listed in stable condition, the Dallas Morning News reported in its online edition Friday.
Justice of the Peace Scott Shinn also awarded SPCA $10,000 in restitution, the paper reported.
East Texas authorities discovered the animals — dogs, cats, sheep, turkeys, rabbits and geese — on Sunday. About 75 animals were dead. SPCA of Texas said some of the animals were found in filthy pens, enclosures and cages.
Necropsies showed some of the animals died from starvation.
Some of the animals will be available for adoption beginning noon on Feb. 6.
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Delfeld was in the Van Zandt County jail Friday in lieu of $100,000 bond, a jail spokesman said.
