An Ontario man has been charged with felony animal cruelty after two pet snakes were found dead inside a residence in the city of Geneva following an eviction earlier this year.
According to the Ontario County Humane Society, 26-year-old Landin DeCook was arrested Tuesday and charged with two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
The investigation began on February 19 when the Geneva Police Department requested assistance from the Humane Society at a residence on Exchange Street in Geneva. Authorities said the case came to light during an eviction at the property. Investigators discovered two deceased snakes still inside their aquariums. One was described as an approximately four-foot-long ball python, while the other was a two-foot-long corn snake.
According to the Humane Society, the property’s owner reported that DeCook, the tenant, had last been seen at the residence in late September 2025 and had not returned. Officials said electricity and water service to the home had been disconnected, there was no food or water available for the animals, and the aquariums lacked a heat source.
After several unsuccessful attempts to locate DeCook, investigators obtained an arrest warrant from Ontario County Court charging him with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty.
On Tuesday, Humane Society officers located DeCook at the Budget Inn on Route 104 in the Town of Ontario. He was taken into custody and transported to the Ontario County Jail for arraignment in Centralized Arraignment Part Court.
The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest.
