WINNSBORO – A Winnsboro man facing six counts of ill treatment to animals pled guilty Oct. 4 to three of those counts in Fairfield County Magistrate’s Court. Judge William Robinson accepted a plea deal for Calvin D. Carver, 52, of 480 Hungry Hollow Road, dismissing three of the charges against Carver and deferring sentencing for 60 days on the charges to which Carver pled guilty.
“Based on the condition of those animals at that time is when I’ll make my decision as to sentencing,” Robinson said as Friday’s proceedings drew to a close.
Carver was cited on July 19 for a half dozen horses that “were not being taken care of properly and needed to be fed,” according to a Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office report. The Sheriff’s Office said photographs of the horses were taken and reviewed by Dr. Michael Privett, a Columbia veterinarian, who according to the report rated the horses at a “5 or below” on a scale of 1-10.
Privett was in the courtroom Friday and agreed to review the horses prior to Carver’s sentencing.
David Brown, Director of Fairfield County Animal Control, said Friday that Carver has already made considerable headway in bringing the neglected horses up to speed. Carver has stocked a considerable amount of hay for the horses, Brown said, but Privett said the horses would require additional grain feed and supplements for a full recovery. Brown said his department is making unannounced inspections of Carver’s pasture to monitor the progress of the horses.
“My main interest here is the welfare of these animals,” Robinson said. “On Dec. 6 is when I’ll make my sentencing.”
