Two Graham men arrested, indicted on animal cruelty charge

Following an investigation from the city of Graham’s animal control and code enforcement, two Graham men were arrested and indicted on a charge of animal cruelty.

Larry Watson, 24, and Jordan Williams, 27, were arrested Wednesday, Dec. 10, held in the Young County Jail on $50,000 bond and released the following day. The two were indicted by a Young County grand jury Monday, Dec. 8.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the city’s animal control department received a report Monday, Sept. 8 of a malnourished dog named Tatumn at a residence at the Indiana Crossing apartment complex.

“The dog’s skeletal system was protruding from its body and appeared to be too weak to stand,” the affidavit states.

The dog belonged to Watson and after contact was made the animal was taken to a veterinarian. An exam of the animal did not produce a medical reason for its condition.

“(The) veterinarian further advised the dog appeared to be in pain and showed signs of starvation to the point of the body pulling nutrients from its own organs to survive,” the affidavit states. “(The) veterinarian advised the dog may not survive even with treatment.”

Watson was interviewed Tuesday, Sept. 9 and provided a sworn statement admitting to not providing necessary food or veterinary care for the dog. 

City Manager Eric Garretty thanked the efforts of the city’s animal control and code enforcement departments as well as the 90th Judicial District Attorney’s office for pursuing the case.

“Thanks to the superior investigative efforts of Animal Control Officer Mike Watts, and Code Enforcement Officer BJ Cook, a dog was saved from what was certain to be a slow and painful death,” he said. “I wish to personally thank the district attorney’s office for presenting this case to the grand jury.”