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Jay Man Charged With 15 Counts Of Animal Cruelty; 53 Animals Seized
February 5, 2026
A Jay man has been charged with animal cruelty after dozens of animals were seized from his farm, at least one of which was euthanized.
Charles Robert Higbee, age 54 of Bell Creek Road, was charged with 10 counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty and five additional misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) and Santa Rosa County Animal Control investigated severe neglect on a farm owned by Higbee.
OALE said investigators discovered emaciated cattle and goats without food or water, poultry starving in filthy pens, and a longhorn cow trapped in a hole. The longhorn was later euthanized due to extreme suffering.
In total, 53 animals were seized:
- 12 cattle
- 31 poultry
- 6 goats
- 1 sheep
- 3 equine
Five poultry carcasses were also located.
Veterinary exams confirmed severe malnutrition and dehydration, investigators said.
Higbee was released from the Santa Rosa County Jail on a $55,000 bond.
Comments
8 Responses to “Jay Man Charged With 15 Counts Of Animal Cruelty; 53 Animals Seized”
This also doesn’t say much of his neighbors in Jay. You cannot live near a property or drive by without noticing the horrible condition his livestock was in. Whoever knew about this and didn’t report it is also guilty.
Some people were born to hate. This creep is one of them. Bless those animals. This is just horrible.
Put a lien on his property ( cost to clean up his crimes ) until he is homeless . He will get there .
He actually looks kind of proud of himself.
Doesn’t look like he’s missed many meals. Make him suffer the same way he made those poor animals suffer. He’s earned it.
I have never understood why people have a spouse, children, or animals when they don’t have the means, drive, or desire to take care of them. He must have the means since he obviously feeds himself and he came up with $5,500 minimum for a bail bond agent.
Seems like every time you see this type of behavior that the person responsible has missed no meals themselves.
I really hope someone takes his food while he is inside the jail let him go hunger for a while cause you can tell he hasn’t missed a meal. Those poor babies I hope they get plenty of food wherever they go. A animal should never go hungry or have to be put down due to human ignorance.