Case Details

Cattle neglect, 1 dead
Charlottesville, VA (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Oct 31, 2005
County: Charlottesville City
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: James Barclay Bell

Case ID: 8008
Classification: Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: cow
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A Fluvanna County beef cattle farmer faces a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge after one of his bulls died. James Barclay Bell, 72, is accused of failing to provide proper nutrition, food or veterinary care to the animal, Fluvanna County Commonwealth�s Attorney Jeff Haislip said. Authorities had sought to seize the sick bull from Bell�s property, Haislip said, but after the animal died, Bell was charged with animal cruelty instead. �There was one particular animal that was in particularly bad shape that did not survive,� Haislip said. He declined to give additional details. �I don�t want to get into the facts of the case. One animal was removed from the farm, and that�s what the charge is based on.� Authorities continue to investigate, Haislip said.

Haislip estimated that Bell has about 160 cattle on his 523 acres off Hells Bend Road. The property is home to rusting cars and farming equipment, and two cattle wandered Wednesday up and down the gravel Hells Bend Road. According to incident reports filed with the Fluvanna County Sheriff�s Office, authorities have visited Bell�s farm several times in the past six months and have spoken to him about loose cattle, licensing his dogs and in one January incident a dead cow �lying near the creek,� Katy Ruhlman of the Sheriff�s Office wrote. Ruhlman wrote on the incident report that she advised Bell to bury the dead cow and check on another that was lying in the middle of a field.

One neighbor, who did not want his name printed, called Bell a friend and said the man is a good mechanic. �I think he keeps the cattle alive. I think he likes the cattle.� Another neighbor, Lynn Barber, said she was concerned partly because some of Bell�s cattle wander up and down the road instead of staying on his property. �You really have to pay attention. People who don�t know that area, who don�t know Barclay Bell�s cattle are out, you have to pay attention because that cow is right there.�

Bell and his lawyer could not be reached for comment. If convicted, Bell could face 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. His trial is scheduled for July 10, 2006.

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References

Daily Progress News - April 8, 2006

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