A Texas man is facing animal cruelty and felonious assault charges in connection with the seizure of 237 allegedly malnourished animals, including 167 horses, from his 86-acre ranch.

Hill County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Gregory Brinkley on 25 counts of misdemeanor animal abuse on March 5 when Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT) volunteers removed the horses along with one donkey, 67 cattle, and two llamas from his ranch near Blum, Texas. Authorities also charged Brinkley with two counts of aggravated assault after he allegedly threatened two deputies at gunpoint during the seizure.

The seizure took place after investigators discovered the animals residing on barren pastures and drinking from a waterhole contaminated with decaying animal carcasses, said Stephen Girsh, public information officer for the Hill County Sheriff’s Department. A judge later placed the seized animals in HSNT custody.

If convicted, Brinkley faces up to one year in jail and fines of up to $4,000 for each misdemeanor count. Each assault charge carries penalties of 5 to 99 years to life in prison and fines up to $10,000. Brinkley failed to post $1 million bail on the assault charges and $50,000 on the animal abuse charges. He remains incarcerated. No court date has been set.

At the time of their removal, the horses’ body conditions ranged between 1 and 4 on the Henneke scale, said HSNT Equine and Livestock Program Coordinator Sandy Grambort. Three were euthanized and seven died from issues related to malnutrition. The cattle, donkey, llamas, and 25 horses have been adopted out.

While the remaining horses await adoption, HSNT is coping with the massive seizure and its mounting costs.

“It’s cost us $40,000 so far. But we’ve had a lot of interest in the horses, so we’re managing,” Grambort said.