Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested 76-year-old David Leslie Cox of Hesperia, California, on 22 counts of Animal Cruelty and one count of Felony Endangerment following an investigation in Golden Valley.
According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 5000 block of Highway 68 on Saturday, June 20, at approximately 5:00 p.m. after receiving a welfare check regarding possible animal cruelty. A reporting party advised that a truck had been parked in direct sunlight for an extended period of time with multiple cages containing cats in the bed of the vehicle. Concerned for the animals’ welfare, the caller contacted authorities.
When deputies arrived, they located the truck and made contact with the registered owner, identified as Cox. Deputies observed several cages containing cats and requested Animal Control Officers respond to conduct an animal cruelty investigation.
Upon arrival, Animal Control Officers discovered an additional cage containing kittens inside the cab of the truck. While removing the animals, officers found that one of the kittens was deceased.
As the investigation continued, officers located a small aquarium-style habitat inside the vehicle. When questioned, Cox reportedly informed officers that it contained a baby Mojave Green rattlesnake. Further inspection of the vehicle revealed multiple buckets containing both live and dead rattlesnakes.
At the conclusion of the investigation, authorities removed a total of 16 cats from the vehicle, including nine adult cats, six kittens, and one deceased kitten. Officers also recovered five rattlesnakes, including two live snakes and three that were deceased.
Felony endangerment charges are being pursued due to the presence of the rattlesnakes inside the vehicle and the lack of prior notification before Animal Control Officers entered the truck.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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