(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------Additional Ill Treatment of Animal Charges has been obtained against three Salem residents previously charged in an ongoing investigation.
77 year old William Andrew Hill, 58 year old James Thaddeus Gaskill, Jr. and 71 year old Ann Hill, all of N. Little River Road, were previously arrested on Monday, August 5th of this year.
Initially, William Hill and Ann Hill were charged with 68 counts of Ill Treatment of Animals while Gaskill, Jr. was charged with seven counts of Ill Treatment of Animals as a result of evidence obtained during the initial part of the investigation. William Hill was also charged with one count of Pointing and Presenting a Firearm at a Person.
According to arrest warrants obtained by an Animal Control Officer last week, Ann Hill has been charged with eight additional counts of Ill Treatment of Animals, William Hill has been charged with five additional counts of Ill Treatment of Animals and Gaskill, Jr. has been charged with seven additional counts of Ill Treatment of Animals.
According to a Sheriff’s Office news release issued on Thursday, August 8th, Animal Control Officers executed a search warrant at the residence on N. Little River Road near Easy Street on the morning of Monday, August 5th. The search warrant was obtained due to reports of animals living in unsanitary conditions inside of the residence.
During the execution of the search warrant, an adult male produced a firearm at around 11:43am that morning while in the presence of an Animal Control Officer, a Deputy and a Veterinarian. The man, identified as Hill, barricaded himself inside of a room while the Deputy’s and the Veterinarian were able to leave the residence unharmed.
SWAT team members and other Deputies assigned to the Criminal Investigations Bureau, the Special Operations Bureau and the Uniform Patrol Bureau responded to the scene. Negotiators were able to make contact with Hill, who later surrendered to Deputies without incident at around 1:26pm that afternoon. No employees of the Sheriff’s Office suffered injuries as the situation was resolved peacefully.
After Hill surrendered to Deputies, he was checked out by a paramedic on scene. William Andrew Hill, Ann Hill and James Thaddeus Gaskill, Jr. were then taken into custody and transported to jail.
Ann Hill was given a combined $68,000 surety bond after her initial arrest. She was released from jail on August 12th after posting bond. Ann Hill was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center, on her new charges, at around 1:02pm on Friday, October 11th. She was released from jail last Friday on a combined $40,000 personal recognizance bond.
William Hill was given a combined $73,000 surety bond after his initial arrest. He was released from jail on August 9th after posting bond. William Hill was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center, on his new charges, at around 1:23pm on Friday, October 11th. He was released from jail last Friday on a combined $25,000 personal recognizance bond.
Gaskill, Jr. has remained in jail, since his initial arrest, on a combined $14,875 surety bond. With his additional charges, Gaskill, Jr.’s combined surety bond amount is now $26,875.00.
During the course of the investigation, Animal Control Deputies report that approximately 97 live animals (77 dogs, nine puppies, two pigs, one goat, two adult cats and six kittens) were seized from the property. 15 puppies were born in the care of Animal Control Deputy’s.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.
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