CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Clarion County man is facing over two dozen animal cruelty charges for allegedly failing to provide food and water to animals at his Ashland Township farm.
Emmett Andrew Freshcorn, 29, of Cranberry, was charged with 27 summary counts of Cruelty to Animals and one count of Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physical Offense.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Clarion-based State Police Tpr. Graf, the investigation was initiated on August 9 after police received a complaint from a neighbor regarding “poor living conditions and poor overall health” of two horses and approximately 25 pigs located at a farm along Camp Coffman Road in Ashland Township, Clarion County.
On August 9, Tpr. Graf went to the farm and attempted to make contact with Freshcorn by knocking on the door of the farmhouse.
There was no answer, and it appeared as if no one had been at the farm for an extended period, according to the criminal complaint.
Upon looking inside the nearby dilapidated barn, Tpr. Graf observed approximately ten piglets that did not have food or water.
“I opened two hay chutes and discovered five large pigs and seven piglets with no food or water,” said Tpr. Graf in the criminal complaint.
“Seeing someone sent all of the pigs into a panic looking for food and or water.”
Tpr. Graf then walked to the rear of the barn and found two horses with their ribs and spines “protruding sharply through their fur.”
Both horses were lethargic and wheezing, according to Tpr. Graf.
According to Tpr. Graf, neither horse had food or water, and their stalls were “covered in muck that was feet thick.”
Later that day, Tpr. Graf made contact with Freshcorn.
According to the criminal complaint, Frescorn told Tpr. Graf that he obtained the horses from a farm in Corsica where they had been mistreated.
Freshcorn explained that he had been in Pittsburgh for approximately sixty days and was paying someone $200/month to care for them.
Freshcorn said he wanted to come back to Clarion County to help the horses but was unable to return due to “other engagements.”
Online court documents indicate that Freshcorn was charged via summons on August 21.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 19 with Magisterial District Judge Amy Long Turk presiding.
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