Rancher Sells Cattle Herd As Charges Filed Worley Man Accused Of Neglect After Nearly 40 Cattle Die

A Worley man accused of neglecting his cattle sold the herd Friday as county authorities filed charges against him.

Harold Chambless, 69, was charged with animal neglect, which is a misdemeanor crime.

Chambless had 64 surviving head of cattle that he sold to a Kootenai County rancher Friday. The animals were to be removed from Chambless’ farm today, said county animal control officer Dusty Rhoads.

“It’s good news for us, because this individual (the buyer) we know will take care of them,” Rhoads said.

Neighbors called the sheriff’s department Tuesday after noticing several dead cattle in the field.

Deputy Jason Shaw responded and found several head of weakened cattle trapped in a 10-foot diameter feeder. He also found another 35 dead cattle, some that had died as long ago as two months, with remnants of feed and hay on top of them.

A state brand inspector described the scene as the worst case he’d ever seen of animal neglect.

Chambless told the deputy that he had been in California and someone else was supposed to take care of the cattle for him.

He gave the caretaker, identified as Duane Bailey, his credit card number in order to buy feed at the Cenex Feed Store in Worley if he ran out, according to Shaw’s report.

On Jan. 10, Bailey purchased 10, 50-pound rations of rolled oats. The store manager told Shaw that he warned Bailey that the amount of feed wasn’t enough for the cattle.

Bailey also was unaware of another 400 bales of hay that Chambless had stored off the property. Chambless said he didn’t think Bailey would have a means of transporting the hay to the farm, according to the report.

Bailey told Shaw that he had called Chambless with concerns about the cattle appearing weak, and Chambless told him he expected some to die because of some bad vaccinations. Bailey said about eight cows died under his care, according to Shaw’s report.

Neighbors are concerned that the scores of dead animals this winter will be a hazard to the drinking water they draw from their wells. Decomposing carcasses provide a way for dangerous bacteria to enter the waterways.

Shawn Ellison of Panhandle Health District said the creek could be contaminated but that because the wells are fairly deep, the soil should filter out any bacteria and other dangerous agents.

According to Idaho law, animal carcasses must be removed from the water within 24 hours. They have to be buried at least 200 feet away from a creek.

Violation of the law is punishable by a $100 fine.

The crime of permitting animals to go without care is a misdemeanor. A first-time offense carries a maximum of six months in jail and a $100 to $5,000 fine. A second violation carries a maximum of nine months in jail and $200 to $7,000 fine. A third violation carries a maximum of 12 months in jail and a fine of between $500 and $7,000.

Rhoads said he had been dispatched to Chambless’ farm “quite a few times” over the past two years.

Sometimes the calls were because the cattle were roaming. But because that area of the county is open range, it’s the neighboring property owners’ responsibility to fence the cattle out.

The Division of Environmental Quality also took a complaint regarding Chambless allowing overgrazing and trampling of the stream. That complaint was referred to the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Compliance with water quality laws on agricultural land is handled on a voluntary basis, however.

No previous charges have been filed against Chambless for either animal neglect or letting carcasses lie in the creek.

, DataTimes