More neglected animals found

Charges possible in Lee County

RALEIGH -- The man charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty after he was found sharing his downtown Apex house with 77 sheep could face additional charges in Lee County.

Authorities got a tip Wednesday that David A. Watts has more animals on land north of Sanford. They found 66 sheep and goats, five horses, three dogs and some chickens.

Health Director Mike Hanes, who oversees Lee County Animal Control, said some of the animals appeared to be starving.

"The sheep, goats and horses were in very bad shape as far as being thin and not having access to water," Hanes said. "There was food out there, but there was none where they could get to it."

The officers fed and watered the animals and will return today with a veterinarian.

"We have interceded to the point we felt we can to get them food and water right now, and we will confer with our attorney on possible animal cruelty charges," Hanes said.

Chatham County Animal Control found about 60 sheep, as well as some cows and llamas, Tuesday on land Watts owns near Moncure. Those animals appeared to be in better health but do need medical attention, authorities said.

Watts, 47, is a land speculator who owns tracts of undeveloped property across central and Eastern North Carolina, according to his attorney. Officials in at least three jurisdictions were scrambling late Wednesday to search tax records for parcels where he might have additional animals.

Watts was arrested Tuesday night in Wake County and charged with 30 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals -- one for each of the 30 sheep from Apex found in such poor condition Monday that they had to be euthanized.

If convicted on all 30 counts, Watts could face punishments ranging from probation and community service to nearly four years in prison. After spending the night in the Wake County jail, Watts made his first court appearance Wednesday.

District Court Jane Gray walked into her courtroom after lunch to see a gaggle of television cameras. "Oh God," she said to the media. "The sheepman?"

Watts' attorney, Josh Hansen, asked the judge to release Watts pending trial. Gray refused but reduced Watts' bail from $30,000 to $12,000. He posted the lesser bond and was released.

As Watts was led from the courtroom, another inmate awaiting a turn before the judge loudly bleated like a sheep, earning Gray's ire.

After the hearing, Hansen portrayed his client as an animal lover who never intended to do harm.

"He was really thinking he was doing the best thing for those animals," the lawyer said. "I think he got in over his head."

In an interview Tuesday, Watts said he had an especially busy lambing season, greatly increasing the number of animals he had to care for.

(Staff writer Marlon A. Walker contributed to this story.)