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Oregon ranch owner indicted for animal abuse, neglect

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12:41 AM MDT on Friday, April 9, 2004

KTVB

BAKER CITY, OR -- A Baker County Grand Jury has handed down indictiment that contains more than 40 criminal charges against an eastern Oregon rancher accused of animal abuse and neglect.

Oregon authorities went to the nearly 4,000 acre ranch of Ivan Langley on March 15 and seized hundreds of starving animals. The ranch is located in the town of Lime about 30 miles east of Baker City.

Marc Morris-KTVB Baker County authorities put animals in crates and transport them away from a ranch in Lime where officials say they were starving to death.

Baker County Deputies and local veterinarians say the animals were badly malnourished. Many of the animals were taken to new homes in central Oregon. The Humane Society and the Baker County Sheriff's Office seized the animals.

The indictment against Langley includes one count of animal abuse in the first degree, seven counts of animal neglect in the first degree, 32 counts of animal abuse in the second degree, two unclassified misdemeanors and two counts of criminal forfeiture.

Baker County District Attorney Matthew Shirtcliff said the counts of animal abuse and neglect in the first degree pertain to horses that died or were found in an emaciated state due Langley's neglect. The second degree counts pertain to animals that did not receive a minimum standard of care under Oregon law. Langley would have to forfeit the animals if he is convicted.

Baker County Sheriff Troy Hale told NewsChannel 7 there were between 100 and 200 head of horses, maybe 40-50 head of cattle, plus ostriches, emus, turkeys and dogs.

Deputies said the surviving animals were severely malnourished. Others were not so fortunate. Dead animals and bones were found throughout Langley's property.

"It's a crock,” said Langley last month when asked about the condition on his ranch. “I ain't abused no animals."

KTVB Ranch owner Ivan Langley denies any wrongdoing.

Langley says the animals died from other causes. For example, he claims an ostrich got caught in a water trough and died; and one of the horses was old and needed to be put down.

Two veterinarians, Dr. Tom Hill and Dr. Hans Magden, investigated the health of the horses, while several veterinarians from the Bend, Oregon area were involved in evaluating the condition of the dogs and other domestic animals.

Shirtcliff said veterinarians found the conditions of the animals, lack of feed available, animals being grossly underfed, a lack of medical treatment and an overall inability of Langley to care for more than 300 animals were all factors considered by the grand jury. The District Attorney said his position was not to simply seek punishment in this case, but to also attempt to fix a problem that has gotten out of hand.