ZenBlog

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. — A Centre County man is facing multiple charges after reports of a dead horse on his property lead to the discovery of multiple other deceased animals as well as animals in poor living conditions Jan. 30, state police say.

According to a criminal complaint, state police received a complaint of a deceased black Percheron mare laying in a muddy pasture for over a week.

State police say a neighbor approached them and said that Levi Byler, 30, was out of town selling sheep and that he was going to bury the deceased horse.

The criminal complaint states that, upon further inspection, state police observed the mare to be severely underweight and that she had been laying in the same position suffering before ultimately being euthanized by a gunshot wound to the head; it also appeared that the mare had suffered a miscarriage.

According to state police, the complainant advised that Byler had gone to Florida and that no one was taking care of the extensive amount of animals on his property.

State police say that they returned to the property the next day and spoke with Byler, who advised that the mare was pregnant and due around June, and that he had her artificially inseminated because she had poor strength in her back legs.

State police also say that Byler told them he had gone to Florida for three weeks due to health reasons.

According to the criminal complaint, Byler admitted that nobody was taking care of his horses, sheep, cows or donkey, but that someone was looking after his dogs.

State police say Byler told them that he returned from Florida on Jan. 23 and that the mare was standing, but was laying down and unable to stand the next day.

The criminal complaint states that Byler contacted a local vet, who noted that the mare had a low body score and had difficulty checking on her due to poor conditions where she was located.

According to state police, Byler noticed the mare was still down the next day but did not fully check on her, and the next day, after noticing the mare was still alive, put her down with his rifle.

State police say that they spoke with the vet, who told them they noted the poor body conditions after checking on the mare and advised Byler to move her if she was not standing within 24 hours.

According to the criminal complaint, police returned to the property on March 6 to speak with Byler, who said he had an attorney and refused to answer any questions.

State police say they obtained a search warrant for Byler's property, which led to the discovery of two deceased lambs in a small shelter not large enough for the amount of sheep in the muddy, fenced-in area, and that there was no food or water located in the area.

State police also say they discovered a Percheron mare, filly and gelding, a Standardbred gelding and two young ponies, all appearing thin and without food, water or shelter, and that several of the horses had multiple injuries that were uncared for with some having trouble walking.

The criminal complaint states that they discovered two cows and a donkey in a nearby field that were without water and had very little food, and that the only food in sight for all the animals on the property was one haybale and a small bag of corn.

According to state police, while they were on scene, Byler and a neighbor began to take care of the animals and that an individual came to deliver food, but stated that this was only his second delivery to Byler.

State police say they attempted to take the horses that were in the worst conditions and that Byler did not have sufficient knowledge on how to care for the animals, and that he agreed to let a local farmer take some of the horses and that he would have the animals looked at by a vet.

State police also say that, when they offered assistance in supplying any food for the animals, Byler became angry.

According to the criminal complaint, state police have received other reports of incidents involving Byler's animals running loose, destroying property and being chained to trees, and that the humane society had given him numerous warnings for having poor living conditions and deceased animals on his property.

Online court dockets show that Byler faces one felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals causing serious bodily injury or death, five charges of cruelty to animals and five charges of neglect of animals by failing to provide shelter or protection.

Court dockets also show that Byler has been freed on unsecured bond with a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 17.

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