SWEET HOME, Ore. -- A Linn County man was arrested on charges that he starved and neglected 35 horses, deputies said.

Deputies raided Richard Stevens' property early Thursday morning on Jones Road for the second time in three years on allegations of animal abuse.

The last time police were at the property, the owner had 17 horses in bad condition; Thursday he had nearly three dozen.

Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller personally served the search warrant to send the message that animal abuse will not be tolerated. Thursday was moving day for many of the horses at the Sweet Home property, and animal experts said it was necessary for every single one of them.

"In my opinion, none of these animals are being treated the way they deserve to be treated," said Scott Beckstead, with the U.S. Humane Society.

In addition to the animals seized, state officials placed six children in protective custody. The relationship between Stevens and the children was not immediately clear.

Mueller said one of the children had been forced to sleep in a chicken coop.

Beckstead was helping deputies assess the animals. He said the dogs had been eating deer carcasses, and the horses were obviously malnourished. They also had foot infections from constantly standing in thick mud.

"It's a combination of just pure callousness and not really caring about your animals," Beckstead said.

Linn County teamed up with state police and the BLM for the raid and they said Stevens had several neglected horses taken away from him three years ago but he got some of them back.

Officials said they think he illegally adopted four BLM mustangs from Nevada as well.

But Stevens said he's done nothing wrong. When Stevens was asked about the horses and told that they were emaciated he replied, "No they're not."

Mueller said Stevens' last case prompted them to form a livestock abuse investigation team and with what they found at his home he said Stevens will definitely be going to jail.

As long as animals are found in bad condition, Mueller said they will keep coming back.

"When you have livestock, you take care of your livestock or get rid of it. I tell you what, in Linn County, Oregon, if you don't, we're going to hold you accountable," Mueller said.

Deputies Say Man Starved 35 Horses