TICONDEROGA, NY — Despite already having one animal cruelty charge hanging over his head, a farmer in New York racked up another charge over the weekend.

Bruce R. Crammond, 67, of Ticonderoga, New York, was cited by the Essex County Sheriff’s Department  Friday with one new count of misdemeanor torturing or injuring animals by failure to provide proper sustenance.

He was released on bail to await proceedings in Ticonderoga Town Court.

Crammond had been arrested March 27 on three misdemeanor counts of torturing or injuring animals by failure to provide proper sustenance. He was released on $7,500 cash bail for those charges at the time.

His wife, Karen S. Crammond, 63, was cited on the same three counts at that time.

Major David Reynolds of the Sheriff’s Department said that on March 26 deputies went to the Crammond Farm with a veterinarian. They found a horse, a donkey and an alpaca that were malnourished and underweight from lack of food and veterinary care.

“Mr. Crammond was advised he was under investigation for cruelty to three of the animals on his property,” Reynolds said. “When we returned the next day to arrest him for those charges, the three animals in question were gone.”

According to Reynolds, officers had intended to seize the animals and house them in a barn at the Essex County Fairgrounds so they could be cared for.

The additional cruelty charge filed Friday was for an animal that had been previously removed to Vermont, and the Sheriff’s Department was waiting for a deposition from the veterinarian who examined it.

The vet reported that animal had also been abused by a lack of care.

Crammond’s history of animal abuse stretches back to 2010 when he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty after a malnourished Belgian draft horse, also suffering from a wound to its neck, was found at his farm.

The horse, named Pops by the owners of Crane Mountain Valley Horse Rescue, was said to be about 600 pounds underweight. It recovered but has since died of natural causes.

Crammond was convicted in a bench trial before Town Justice James O’Bryan, who is also hearing the current case against Crammond.

As a result of the charges filed March 27, the County Probation Department has also filed a probation violation against Mr. Crammond.

Mr. Crammond did not return messages left on his voicemail Friday afternoon asking for comment.

McKinstry writes for The Press-Republican