Anthony Bassler. (Source: Upshur County)UPSHUR COUNTY, TX (KLTV) -
An Upshur County judge has set a $50,000 bond for a man who is in jail on animal cruelty charges.
Anthony Bassler, 35, lives in Ore City. Authorities arrested him Tuesday morning.
Police found a dead donkey hanging from a tree along with two other malnourished animals.
"At this point, talking to witnesses, it appears that the individual tortured the animals," said Lt. Freddie Fitzgerald with the Upshur County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies seized a malnourished donkey and goat from the property. While serving a search warrant, they found something else disturbing.
"Further investigation led them to another donkey that they found hanging from a tree behind the residence," said Fitzgerald.
Bassler told police he used the donkey as panther bait, but neighbors have not seen a panther.
"I haven't seen a panther, I haven't heard a panther, nobody else has," said neighbor Amber Badillo.
Authorities say the evidence just does not line up with his story.
No matter why he did it, Bassler is behind bars.
Bassler was also arrested in 2009 for cruelty to animals.
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