"Ronald E. Tenbensel, 53, 1815 W 13th, was cited with 170 counts of animal neglect. He was processed and released on his own recognizance.

Animal neglect is a Class-I misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum of one-year imprisonment, a $1,000 fine or both.

Wilson said deputies received a complaint about the animals and investigated the ranch, then obtained a search warrant.

An affidavit said approximately 100 head of cattle were dead or dying, including animal carcasses and live cattle that were down and couldn’t get up.

The cattle that were down were being preyed on by predator animals while still alive, the affidavit said, slowly eaten to death as they lay in distress.

A deputy also observed there were multiple cattle skeletal remains, dead and dying cow and calf pairs, according to the affidavit, and the cattle were without any feed, forage or water.

Some of the baby calves were eating bailing twine, the deputy reported, and some of the water troughs were full of mud while others were bone dry. The deputies determined that the cows had been abandoned, cruelly mistreated and criminally neglected."~read full story from North Platte Bulletin