BECKLEY — Raleigh County Sheriff Steve Tanner is still sorting through photos and eyewitness reports and talking with veterinary experts regarding possible instances of animal abuse from December 2010 on two farms belonging to Grady Whitlock in Raleigh County.

Charges have not yet been filed.

“When I am satisfied that experts say this was abuse, there will be charges rendered, but we have to be sure, and there has to be a standard when dealing with cases where there is no longer physical evidence,” Tanner said.

The first case under investigation involves a farm on Mount View Road in Cool Ridge. Tanner is looking at photographs taken of steers that, while they have food and water in the picture, may be underfed.

“You can’t starve an animal for a month and then throw down some hay, but I’m not satisfied by a photo that there was abuse,” he commented.

Veterinarians have examined the pictures and offered conflicting opinions on the steers’ appearance, he said.

“Some tell me that the steers look underfed; others say that this type of steer loses weight naturally in the winter and should look like that,” Tanner explained.

Photographs of the steers were taken in December, and those photos, along with personal testimonies, are the foundation of what might develop into charges of abuse and neglect against Whitlock.

On Whitlock’s Bradley property, where a trailer filled with miniature horses allegedly stood for more than a week, Tanner is going through the same procedure of collecting pictures and statements and talking with animal experts.

About the Bradley property, Tanner stated, “I am gaining new information on that every day. My concern is trying to determine a standard. Some say that leaving horses in a trailer for five to eight days is OK when they have food and water. Others say it is not OK.

“I personally believe it is inappropriate to have animals confined to a horse trailer for an extended amount of time, but that is just my layman’s opinion,” he said.

“I am trying to get agreeing expert opinions that will hold up in court.”

Pictures of the Bradley property were also taken in December, and the horse trailer is no longer on the property.

Tanner said he believes that, if evidence concurs, what was seen and reported in December is a crime.

He also noted that these two investigations do not have the same urgency as the one in Greenbrier County as animals are not in immediate danger.

The investigative standards and time frame for these cases may not be typical, but Tanner assured that when expert opinion shows a clear case of abuse or neglect took place, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office will press charges.

He said he believes the possibility for prosecution against Grady Whitlock exists in Raleigh County.

— E-mail: splummer@register-herald.com