A man has been charged with animal cruelty offences alleged to have occurred in the Hunter region.
On Tuesday 8 October 2024, 98 dead kangaroos were found on Commonwealth land, along with an ammunition box and two cartridges.
These items were seized as officers from Hunter Valley Police District Rural Crime Prevention Team (RCPT) investigators commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following inquiries, officers attached to the Hunter Valley PD Rural Crime Prevention Team – assisted by officers from Port Stephens-Hunter PD – executed a Commonwealth Search Warrant about 8am Friday (20 December 2024), at a property in Williamtown.
Three firearms were seized from the Williamtown property and a 43-year-old man was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with six offences,
- Commit an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal
- Discharge firearm upon/over Commonwealth prohibited area
- Trespass onto commonwealth land
- Not keep firearm safely – not pistol/prohibited firearm
- Harm or attempt to harm a protected animal, and
- Holder of Category A or B licence not have approved storage.
Police have since seized a number of firearms from a second Hunter region property. A Firearms Suspension Notice has been issued.
The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 13 January 2025.