UPSHUR COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - An East Texas man charged with cruelty to livestock animals is behind bars.
Anthony Bassler, 35, lives in Ore City. Authorities said they seized a malnourished donkey and goat from his property.
When Upshur County authorities arrived at his home, they found a donkey fatally hanged in a tree.
Veterinarians are working with police to determine if the donkey was already dead when it was hanged.
Bassler said he hanged the donkey from a tree after he it had died. He went on to tell police that he was using that donkey as bait for a panther.
This is an ongoing investigation. Bassler remains jailed in Upshur County on one count of cruelty of livestock animals.
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Anthony Bassler (Source: Upshur County)
