Cranberry Man Set to Appear in Court on Animal Cruelty Charges

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published October 15, 2017 4:30 am
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SHIPPENVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — A Cranberry man accused of neglecting several horses and pigs at an Ashland Township farm is set to appear in Clarion County Central Court next week.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Emmett Andrew Freshcorn, of Cranberry, is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing in Clarion County Central Court at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, October 17.

Clarion-based State Police filed charges against Freshcorn on August 21, 2017, after he allegedly failed to provide food and water to animals on his Ashland Township farm.

Freshcorn is facing 27 summary counts of Cruelty to Animals and one count of Disorderly Conduct-Hazardous/Physical Offense.

Online court documents indicate a subpoena was hand-delivered to Freshcorn on September 22.

According to a criminal complaint, the investigation began on August 9 after state police received a complaint from a neighbor regarding “poor living conditions and poor overall health” of two horses and approximately 25 pigs located at a farm along Camp Coffman Road in Ashland Township, Clarion County.

On August 9, Clarion-based State Trooper Graf went to the farm but found no one there, and it appeared as if no one had been at the farm for an extended period, the complaint states.

freshcorn farm

Upon looking inside the nearby dilapidated barn, Trooper Graf observed approximately 10 piglets that did not have food or water, the complaint continues.

“I opened two hay chutes and discovered five large pigs and seven piglets with no food or water,” states Trooper Graf.

“Seeing someone sent all of the pigs into a panic looking for food and or water.”

Trooper Graf then walked to the rear of the barn and found two horses with their ribs and spines “protruding sharply through their fur.”

Both horses were lethargic and wheezing, according to Trooper Graf.

Neither horse had food or water, and their stalls were “covered in muck that was feet thick,” according to the complaint.

Later that day, Trooper Graf made contact with Freshcorn.

According to the complaint, Freshcorn told Trooper Graf that he obtained the horses from a farm in Corsica where they had been mistreated.

Freshcorn explained that he had been in Pittsburgh for approximately 60 days and was paying someone $200.00 per month to care for them, the complaint states.

Freshcorn said he wanted to come back to Clarion County to help the horses but was unable to return due to “other engagements,” the complaint indicates.

Trooper Graf told exploreClarion.com, “They hadn’t been fed or watered in some time. They weren’t sick, but they were in dire need of water and food.”

“When I put water down for them, the piglets went crazy. The horses drank heavily when I gave them water, too,” Trooper Graf explained.

Trooper Graf said it didn’t take long for the animals to be relocated. Both horses were taken to the Tionesta 4-H Equine Rescue, and the pigs and hogs were placed at area farms.

Both horses – a 6-year-old female and a 20-year-old male – had been at a Corsica farm where they were mistreated. A Corsica man, Leonard Hughes, was convicted and served time for those offenses.

Trooper Graf said Freshcorn has pending drug charges in Nebraska.

According to a published article on 1011now.com, in May of 2017, Freshcorn was stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska. A brick of heroin, a bag of marijuana, hash oil, and 10 hits of LSD were found in his vehicle.

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