(WNY News Now) – Clarence Center residents Brittany Farley and Nicholas Hatswell face multiple charges after a welfare check revealed injured and neglected animals in their care, including a dog with stab wounds in the neck.
Clarence, NY — A Clarence Center couple has been arraigned on animal cruelty charges following a disturbing discovery by New York State Police on December 26, 2024. Brittany Farley, 28, and Nicholas Hatswell, 26, were each charged with two counts of Overdriving, Torturing, and Injuring Animals, as well as Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance under New York State Agriculture and Markets Law. Farley also faces an additional charge of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, a Class “E” felony.
The charges stem from a welfare check conducted by the New York State Police at a residence on Northfield Road in the Town of Clarence Center. During the investigation, officers found an adult male dog with untreated stab wounds to its neck and abdomen. A second adult dog was discovered malnourished with no access to food or water. Additionally, a puppy was found with an untreated eye injury. The conditions inside the home were deemed unsuitable for the animals, leading to the seizure of six dogs and two cats from the property.
Farley and Hatswell were arraigned before Clarence Town Court Justice Michael B. Powers, where they were released on their own recognizance, as the charges do not qualify for bail. A temporary order prohibiting them from possessing animals was issued while the case progresses. The defendants are scheduled to return to court on February 4, 2025, for further proceedings.
If convicted, Farley faces up to two years in prison for the highest charge, while Hatswell could receive a maximum sentence of one year in jail.
Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the New York State Police and the Town of Clarence Dog Control Officers for their dedication and thorough work in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney from the Felony Trials Bureau.
As is standard in criminal cases, both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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