Mar. 21, 2013 – Two Men Face Animal Cruelty Charges in Dawsonville

A former Dawson County employee is among the two facing charges in an animal cruelty probe involving malnourished horses in northwestern Dawson.

According to Authorities, Tyler Jones of Dawsonville and Jim White of Dallas were cited last week with three counts each of animal cruelty by the Dawson County Marshal’s Office.

The Gainesville Times reported that Jones supervised the Dawson County Transfer Station and Recycling Center until he resigned last week in the wake of the charges, which are misdemeanors and carry a maximum sentence of up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine.

According to Dawson County Planning Director David McKee, the investigation began March 5 when the marshal’s office received reports of animal neglect from residents of the Amicalola Church and Hubbard roads area, where Jones and White kept horses in a leased pasture.

Mckee said they received multiple complaints from citizens that were driving by and saw the horses and one of person even called the Department of Agriculture.

According to the Times, The complaints were investigated by the marshal’s office and the Department of Agriculture, which determined an older horse had died and two others were malnourished.

McKee said the two horses are improving daily after being moved to a 100-acre pasture on Kelly Bridge Road.

The citations were issued March 13, one day before Jones resigned his position with the county.