DA: Man charged after 500 dead animals found in his Laton home in 2024

The DA's bureau says 42-year-old Carl Joseph Mendes of Laton was charged with 3 counts of cruelty to an carnal and 3 counts of kid endangerment.

On May 3, 2024, deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, officials with the Central California SPCA and Fresno Humane Animal Services responded to reports of aggregate neglected and deceased animals astatine Mendes' location successful Laton.

Upon arrival, officials study uncovering pigs confined successful pens alongside decomposing carcasses, animals successful skeletal form, and 1 emaciated piglet successful specified mediocre information that it had to beryllium euthanized on-site.

Inside a trailer, the DA's bureau says six newborn goats with umbilical cords inactive attached were discovered. They were underweight, lethargic, with nary entree to beverage oregon water, and a babe goat was dormant successful a cage by itself, portion different 1 was euthanized on-site owed to its condition.

Additionally, 150 chickens, roosters, and pigeons were located successful filthy pens contaminated with feces, lacking cleanable water, and lodging some surviving and dormant birds. The DA reports investigating aboriginal confirmed that galore birds were infected with highly contagious and terrible diseases, and aggregate fowl died oregon were euthanized during the investigation.

Fresno County Public Health assisted with the cleanup of astir 500 dormant animals connected the property, including sedate sites wherever aggregate carnal remains were dumped into wide burial pits, according to the DA.

Additionally, the DA's bureau says children were surviving successful the property, exposed to the aforesaid hazardous and unsanitary conditions.

If convicted, Mendes faces a maximum condemnation of 4 years and 4 months successful section prison.