Four people are facing animal cruelty charges following an investigation at a residence in Steuben County.
According to the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, deputies executed a search warrant last Tuesday at a home on County Route 17 in the Town of Bradford. Investigators report finding 11 dogs and four cats inside the residence, all of which required medical attention. The animals were removed from the home and transported to the Finger Lakes SPCA for housing and treatment.
Deputies arrested the four tenants of the residence: 41-year-old Steve Button, 29-year-old Chance Gilbert, 39-year-old April Culbertson, and 24-year-old Jasmine Randall. Authorities say all four were charged in connection with the condition of the animals.
Each suspect was charged with 11 counts of overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals for failure to provide proper sustenance. Culbertson was additionally charged with endangering the welfare of a child after investigators determined a person under the age of 17 was present and placed at risk.
The investigation remains ongoing
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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