Man Found Guilty of Nearly 60 Animal Cruelty Charges

A Ball Ground man was convicted earlier this month by a Cherokee County jury of close to 60 charges related to animal cruelty.

The jury on March 10 convicted Roderick Tietjen 57, on 24 counts of cruelty to animals and 34 counts of improper disposal of dead animals.

Tietjen was arrested on Oct. 17, 2013, by the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office and initially charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty after nearly two dozen animals were found in various stages of neglect.

Pickens Progress reports the agency received complaints from neighbors about barking and an odor coming from the property, located at 585 Creighton Road.

The newspaper reported the agency executed a search warrant of the property and were accompanied by officials with the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, Cherokee Office of Solicitor General and an inspector from the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Pickens Progress reports 19 dogs — five Great Pyrenees and 14 Shelties — and one cat were all taken from the property. The dogs were emaciated and showed signs of neglect.

Investigators also found bones, carcasses and rancid meat and fecal matter on the property, according to the newspaper.

In December 2013, the Cherokee County Solicitor General’s Office filed accusations against Tietjen, initially charging him with 24 counts of animal cruelty and 36 counts of improper disposal of dead animals. Sentencing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. April 22.