SALEM – Ryan Crum, of Hardinsburg, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of 24 counts of cruelty to an animal.
Washington Circuit Court Judge Larry Medlock sentenced Crum on June 1, 2023, to 180 days on each count. Crum was given credit for 60 days served on each count and 60 days were suspended on each count. Crum in total was sentenced to 12 years in prison with four years suspended.
“This was a serious case of animal neglect,” said Prosecutor Tara Hunt. “The many dogs owned by Mr. Crum were horribly neglected and their lives were endangered due to his lack of care.”
Upon his release from prison, Crum will be on probation for four years and will be required to seek mental health services. Crum is also prohibited from possessing or caring for a vertebrate animal.
Crum was found guilty of the crimes by a jury on October 5, 2022.
Crum was tried in absentia, meaning the trial was held without Crum present, but his counsel was present on his behalf.
After being found guilty, a warrant was issued for Crum’s arrest.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Department Animal Control Officer began the investigation on July 28, 2021, after being requested to a residence on South Green Mill Road after the caller reported the smell of something dead.
When Officer Mike Wimmer asked Crum about the smell, he said it was probably a dead chicken at the neighbor’s home. As Officer Wimmer spoke with Crum, his two dozen dogs began to gather around him. Officer Wimmer said the dogs appeared dangerously underweight and emaciated. There were also dogs on the property which were locked in a semi-trailer. The temperature that day was more than 90 degrees.
Crum admitted his dogs had been passing blood in their feces and said he couldn’t find anyone to take him and the dogs to the veterinarian.
Crum finally agreed to allow Officer Wimmer to contact the State Veterinarian and allow them to check on the dogs.
After viewing photos of the dogs, State Veterinarian Dr. Jodi Lovejoy said the dogs appeared to be in significant jeopardy and she was very concerned about the dogs locked in the trailer, as well as a lack of food or water for the dogs. Three of the dogs later died as a result of being neglected.
Crum was found guilty in a jury trial last August. “This was an unusual trial because the defendant failed to appear and he was tried in absentia, meaning the trial was held in his absence with his counsel present on his behalf,” said Prosecutor Hunt. “These are instances that you normally learn about in law school. I was extremely impressed with the trial process and the ultimate guilty verdict reached at the hands of Deputy Prosecutor Nathan Bills, who was new to our office at the time of the trial. Bills were able to take a difficult animal neglect case with multiple counts and present the facts in a manner that ensured the jury could make the right decision.” said Hunt.
She would also like to thank Animal Control Officer Wimmer and officers within the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, the staff and volunteers of the Washington County Humane Society and Salem Animal Shelter, along with the expertise of the Board of Animal Health, specifically Dr. Jodi Lovejoy DVM, because without their investigation and efforts a case of this nature could not have a successful outcome.
