Hundreds of animals seized, charges filed
Gatesville , TX (US)Incident Date: Monday, Jan 31, 2011
County: Coryell
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Curtis Clifton Moore
» Racine Maru Moore
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
An additional animal cruelty charge was filed Wednesday against Curtis Clifton Moore, 51, and his wife Racine Maru Moore , 63, from whose ranch authorities have seized hundreds of animals including horses, dogs and even a pair of tigers.
The Moores are now each charged with a dozen counts of animal cruelty, as well as with illegal dumping.
Their bonds were set at $23,000 each.
Coryell County authorities said Wednesday additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
The Moores were arrested Monday after authorities executed search and seizure warrants on their ranch and home on Mariott Road in southwestern Coryell County.
The original warrant was for the seizure of horses, but investigators encountered more than they expected as they searched the property.
As a result, the 39 horses were delivered to a Gatesville veterinarian and a second seizure warrant was obtained for another 230 dogs, 13 rodents, 18 cats, a primate, a deer, a raccoon, a monitor lizard, two Bengal tigers and two Mountain Lions.
Deputies spent a third day Wednesday working to remove all of the animals.
The Houston office of the SPCA is taking custody of all of the animals except for the horses, which remain in the care of the vet in Gatesville.
Case UpdatesThe hearing for a Coryell County couple charged with 64 counts each of animal cruelty was canceled Friday because of inclement weather.
Curtis Moore, 51, and Racine Moore, 63, remained in the Coryell County Jail on a $23,000 bond each.
Coryell County Sheriff's Office Deputy Chief Joe Blakley said the hearing was moved to 1 p.m. Monday. | Source: kdhnews.com - Feb 4, 2011
Update posted on Feb 5, 2011 - 11:39AM |
More than 50 additional complaints were filed Thursday against Curtis Moore, 51, and his wife Raycene Moore, 63, from whose ranch authorities seized hundreds of animals including horses, dogs and even a pair of tigers.
Each was charged with 46 additional counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and six additional counts of state jail felony cruelty to animals.
They are now both named in 57 misdemeanor complaints and seven state jail felony complaints and authorities said Thursday more charges are possible.
The two appeared briefly in court Thursday morning, but the hearing was continued until Friday because neither has a lawyer.
As the couple was brought from the jail to court, Raycene Moore said she was being unjustly accused.
"I didn't hurt those animals," she said to a News 10 photographer as she walked the 100 feet from the jail to the court building.
"The sheriff has been watching me for months. You need to talk to the people who know me," she said.
"I have a USDA license and AKC always comes in and inspects so if I was mistreating animals, everybody would know. I love animals," she said.
A ranch hand who said he works for the Moores said he fed the dogs and horses every other day.
"I know that they are fed very well," he said.
Officials from the Houston office of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals appeared at the hearing, as well.
"Even though it is disheartening, it is rewarding knowing these animals are being taken from a poor situation and being transported," said Houston SPCA Chief Cruelty Investigator Charles Jantzen.
"It's going to be the first time ever knowing what warmth is like and what adequate conditions are going to be like," he said.
The Moores were arrested Monday after authorities executed search and seizure warrants on their ranch and home on Mariott Road in southwestern Coryell County.
The original warrant was for the seizure of horses, but investigators encountered more than they expected as they searched the property.
As a result, the 39 horses were delivered to a Gatesville veterinarian and a second seizure warrant was obtained for another 230 dogs, 13 rodents, 18 cats, a primate, a deer, a raccoon, a monitor lizard, two Bengal tigers and two Mountain Lions.
Deputies spent a third day Wednesday working to remove all of the animals and by Wednesday night, all of the animals have been removed.
The Houston office of the SPCA took custody of all of the animals except for the horses, which remain in the care of the vet in Gatesville. | Source: kwtx.com - Feb 3, 2011
Update posted on Feb 3, 2011 - 9:54PM |
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