Greenfield horse farm target of new neglect charges

The brother of convicted animal abuser Ann Arnold has been charged for a second time with not providing care to horses at what was formerly her Greenfield farm.

Duane D. Carpenter, 55, of Brookline Avenue, Albany, was arrested Monday and charged with 12 counts of failure to provide proper sustenance to a dozen horses at 131 Wilton-Greenfield Road, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said.

It is alleged Carpenter failed to provide liquid water to the horses. Sheriff’s Lt. Jeffrey Brown said the stream and pond where the horses normally drink was frozen, and no additional water was being provided.

The horses are now fine, Brown said. He said there was no other abuse taking place.

However, on the night deputies went to the farm earlier this month, the situation was serious enough that firefighters were asked to fill a large tub with water to give the animals immediate relief, District Attorney Karen Heggen said.

Deputies said the arrest followed an investigation into a report of possible animal abuse and mistreatment called in by a concerned citizen. Brown said no other charges are likely.

Carpenter was also charged with failure to provide sustenance in December 2013. That case is currently in the middle of trial in Greenfield Town Court, with the next testimony slated for March 23. A farm caretaker, James B. Foster, was arrested at the same time and pleaded guilty to two charges. He was placed on probation on condition he no longer be around the horses.

In February 2014, Greenfield Town Justice Michael Ginley — the same judge presiding at Carpenter’s trial — issued an order to allow the SPCA of Upstate New York to make regular visits to the farm to determine whether the horses were receiving necessary food, water and care. That order was later lifted, but Ginley re-imposed it Monday following Carpenter’s arrest.

Carpenter was arraigned before Ginley and released without bail pending future court action.

Philip Ackerman of Troy, the attorney representing Carpenter, declined comment Tuesday.

The failure to provide sustenance charge is a misdemeanor under state Agriculture and Markets Law, punishable by up to a year in jail.

Carpenter’s sister, Arnold, has been arrested on horse neglect charges several times. She was convicted in 2012 of 19 counts of not providing proper sustenance to horses on the property, sentenced to three years’ probation and ordered by Ginley to no longer keep animals.

Arnold subsequently transferred the farm to her brother’s ownership and moved to Washington County.

Heggen said it isn’t clear if the horses now on the farm are the same ones Arnold had there several years ago.

“It’s unfortunate that despite numerous times family members have been cited that we are once again back in court over a similar situation,” Heggen said.