5/19/09 Prineville
 
By Doug Johnson
 
California resident Robert Gruntz was out of Crook County Jail Tuesday afternoon on a conditional release agreed upon by both the state and his attorney. This comes after Gruntz turned himself in on eleven counts of animal neglect involving horses Crook County removed last March from a Powell Butte property claiming they were underfed and improperly cared for.
 
"He is part of the group that maintains control over the horses and therefore he's required to take care of the animals," says Sgt. Travis Jurgens with the Crook County Sheriff's Office.
 
During Tuesday's arraignment, Gruntz was order to have no contact with any witnesses from the case and to stay away from the remaining sixty horses residing on the ranch property. Neither the District Attorney nor the Sheriff's office could comment on whether any charges would be filed against the owner of the horses and property, Dr. Ritchie Stevens of Park City Utah.
 
"He and his wife are both listed as owners of the property, and the contents of that property, so the horses would be contents of that property," says Sgt. Jurgens.
 
In court the District Attorney also accused Gruntz of threatening several witnesses of a forfeiture hearing over ownership of the 15 animals taken last month, including three veterinarians. KOHD attempted to talk with Gruntz about the allegations, once he was released.
 
"No comment at this time on advice of council," Gruntz said outside the Crook County Jail.
 
Gruntz informed the court that he would be returning to California, and the judge will allow him to make future court appearances by phone.