Pair face 100 counts of animal neglect

HORSES AUCTIONED: Twenty-one horses and five foals were sold at auction in Joseph Friday to help satisfy a judgment against Byrde Lynn Hill and Carpe Diem Farm. About $65,000 was raised. KATY NESBITT / The Observer

Charges allege owners of Carpe Diem Farm in Troy failed to provide minimum care requirements for horses

ENTERPRISE — The owners of the Carpe Diem Farm in Troy have been charged with 100 counts of second-degree animal neglect, a Class B misdemeanor.

Wallowa County District Attorney Mona Williams filed charges Friday against Byrde Lynn Hill and Frank Baxter of Bellevue, Wash., owners of Carpe Diem.

Hill and Baxter have been under the scrutiny of animal rights activists and the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office for more than a year because of worries that horses at the remote, mountaintop farm were not receiving adequate care.

The couple is charged with allegedly failing to provide the minimum state law care requirements of food and water, Williams said, on or between the dates of Feb. 21-24.

The DA’s office has been investigating the case since the horses were seized as evidence Feb. 24 by the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office. All 120 horses, including foals born this winter, were transported to the Wallowa Valley by the sheriff’s office March 16-17.

In addition to the criminal charges, Hill and Carpe Diem Farm lost a civil suit to Vince and Tina Shevham in a breach of employment contract suit last summer. Friday morning 21 horses and five foals were auctioned to repay some of the costs of the Shevham’s judgment.

Assets of Hill and/or Carpe Diem Farm have been sold at auctions this winter and spring in order to satisfy part of the Shevham’s judgment against Hill, which has not been paid, Attorney Zach Hostetter said.

Roughly $65,000 was raised at Friday’s auction and approximately $100,000 total has been recouped to help pay the $325,000 judgment   awarded the Shevhams in last summer’s jury trial.