Wagoner County Man Facing 42 Counts Of Animal Cruelty

A Wagoner County man faces more than 40 counts of animal cruelty after investigators said they found animals tied up and abandoned on his property.

Wagoner County Deputies said this was a disturbing sight they never want to see again.  

Wagoner County Sheriff Chris Elliott said he was appalled at the conditions that these animals were living in, but he is grateful to those who stepped up to help. Deputies responded to an animal cruelty complaint in Porter on Wednesday where they said they discovered 3 horses, one cow, one bull, and a heifer tied up to posts with multiple injuries. Authorities said they also found about 40 dogs in a small building behind the home.

"No animal, no human being, or anybody should live in conditions like that,” said Sgt. Jeff Halfacre, Wagoner County Sheriff’s office.

Halfacre said his team notified the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police and the FBI. Together, they worked to help the animals living in unrest.  

"They immediately started sending resources out to assist us with this deal,” Halfacre said. “To find out actually who took jurisdiction."  

Lighthorse Police took Kerry E. Yochum into custody and transported him to the Wagoner County Detention Center. Deputies said Yochum is facing 42 counts of animal cruelty, as authorities said they also found about 40 dogs in a small building behind the home. They said all the animals were overheated and malnourished.  

"There were maggots just covering the floor. From the feces, there was ooze coming out where the cages, where there was feces and urine that had been spiking over,” Halfacre said. “So, it was just, it was God awful." 

Sgt. Halfacre said eight kind-hearted people offered to temporarily house the animals. 

"You don't ever go out on a call and have something as significant and something as good as this come along,” Halfacre said.  

Halfacre said the Wagoner animal clinic agreed to come out and check all the animals.  He said the veterinarian believes most of the dogs will recover because they are young dogs but thinks that five might need to be put down. The veterinarian also said the dogs are thrilled to have grass, sunshine, food and water.