Ontario County Humane Society,Charges one Individual with Animal Cruelty

Name:    Landin J. DeCook                                                                           
Age:        26                                                                                                                                                             
Street:   Budget Inn 440 NY-104 Rm #216
City:       Ontario NY 14519                                                  

On February 19, 2026, at about 340pm, the Ontario County Humane Society was contacted by the Geneva Police Department and asked to respond to 113 Exchange Street to assist them with an animal abandonment incident.  This was discovered during an eviction took place at this location.   At this time, two deceased snakes were located still inside their aquariums. On was an approximate 4-foot-long ball python and the other a two-foot-long corn snake.  Per the land owner, the tenant, Mr. DeCook was last seen at this location at the end of September 2025 and had not returned since that time.  The electric and water to the residence wasn’t on and there wasn’t any food or water left in the snakes’ aquariums.  There wasn’t any source of heat in the aquariums either.   After several attempts to locate Mr. DeCook were unsuccessful, a Warrant of Arrest, charging Mr. DeCook with Aggravated Animal Cruelty (2-counts)-(felony) was obtained from Ontario County Court Judge Reed.

On 6/23/26 at about 110am Mr. DeCook was located at the Budget Inn 440 NY-104 Ontario NY.  He was arrested and transported to the Ontario County Jail for Centralized Arraignment Part Court (CAP). 

The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this arrest.