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In Carter County, Tennessee, a family has admitted guilt to three out of nineteen animal cruelty charges after just a single day of witness testimonies. Ryan, Sarah, and Nathaniel Oaks faced these charges following the removal of over 30 animals, including a pair of lemurs, from their residence last June.
The proceedings began with testimony from Darren Lacey, an animal control officer serving Elizabethton and Carter County. Lacey recounted his response to a welfare check concerning animals on June 5 of the previous year.
Lacey described the conditions he observed when Ryan Oaks led him around the property. He noted ducks living in stagnant, algae-filled water, pigs with tusks that had grown too long, and rabbits housed in cages within a yard barn, visibly panting from distress.
“Upon arrival, I informed Mr. Oaks [Ryan Oaks] that I was conducting a welfare check on the animals and asked if he could show me around,” Lacey explained. “Inside a building, I found animals without water, all showing signs of severe stress. Rabbits, snakes, bearded dragons—all were clearly distressed, with no water or food in sight.”
Lacey further detailed the grim scene: “Ducks were in a pond that was overrun with green algae and feces. There were lemurs without water, and a dog confined in a kennel lacking shelter.”
Lacey says he called the Carter County Sheriff’s Office and returned the next day with other organizations to seize the animals.
During cross-examination, Lacey said he was aware the Oaks family ran a rescue but said he did not ask where the animals came from or how long they had been at the Oaks’ residence.
“Did you talk to them about when they had received any of these animals?” the defense asked Lacey.
“No. I did not, sir,” Lacey said.
“So you don’t know if these animals have been there for a short amount of time and had problems before?”
“What I heard later on that they rescued that…snake. That’s all I heard. They were on their property for a while. They did tell us that. The snake was the only thing they took in recent.”
Issac Rhea with the sheriff’s office said he responded to a call from animal control.
He said when he went to the Oaks’ residence, he said the animals were in a bad state and asked Ryan Oaks how it had gotten that way. Rhea said Ryan Oaks said it had “gotten out of hand.”
Rhea said he did not see anything at the residence saying it was a rescue business.
“Did you notice anything when you were at the residence about this beeing a rescue business?” the prosecution asked Rhea.
“No,” Rhea said.
“Did you talk with either Ryan Oaks or Nathaniel Oaks about why they had all these animals there?”
“No, I didn’t ask why. They gave it themselves.”
Shannon Posada, director of the Elizabethan/Carter County Animal Shelter, also testified, saying she also responded to the Oaks’ residence with Rhea and Animal Control.
Posada said after the animals were surrendered by Nathaniel Oaks, Sarah and Ryan Oaks came to the shelter to ask for them back. Posada said Sarah Oaks signed a form saying she owned a snake, which was surrendered.
“I told her I would make it known to the deputy that she was claiming rights to the animals and that I did tell Lt. Rhea her visit at the shelter as well,” Posada said. “I asked Mr. Oaks (Ryan Oaks) where a specific snake came from, and he said, I will not answer any questions from you.”
During a break, the Oaks agreed to plead guilty to three of the charges and entered the same deal. The deal will run consecutively, and the Oaks will be on a judicial diversion. They will each pay a $200 fine, complete 100 hours of community service, pay court costs, and pay restitution to the animal shelter for $3,500.
The Oaks will also not be allowed to have animals during their three-year probation period.