Oregon man held after abuse complaint about children, mustangs on farm

FOSTER, Ore. — State officials placed six children in protective custody Thursday after following up on a neglected and starved horses complaint near Foster Reservoir.

Deputies arrested 62-year-old Richard Reed Stevens. Linn County sheriff Tim Mueller said deputies found that one of the children had been forced to sleep in a chicken coop. Deputies on duty Thursday night said they did not know what the relationship was between Stevens and the children.

Linn County deputies, Oregon State Police, the Bureau of Land Management, SafeHaven Humane Society and the state Department of Human Services took part in the investigation.

The sheriff's office was looking into a report that 35 horses were starving and lacking water.

The BLM was there to remove wild mustangs from Nevada that Stevens adopted about a month ago.

The humane society was checking on the condition of pets and human resources was checking on the children.

Law enforcement started proceedings to confiscate animals on the property two weeks ago when deputies arrived at Stevens 21-acre property to serve civil papers.

Deputies began rounding up the horses Thursday to assess their medical condition.