CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston man was arrested for animal cruelty after allegedly starving one horse to death and almost starving a second one in Big Chimney. The man apparently was a candidate for the state House of Delegates last year.

Clint Casto, 30, of 913 Amherst Drive, was arrested Monday after a Kanawha County humane officer found a dead horse almost complete decomposed in a stall on Casto's property. A second horse was in the next stall and was completely emaciated and barely able to stand, according to a complaint filed with the Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Kanawha County humane officer Johnny Brotherton said in the complaint that there was no food or water in the stalls and there didn't appear to have been any for a long time.

Brotherton said Casto had to drive past the horses to get to his house, so it appeared Casto intentionally and maliciously starved one horse to death and another to the brink, inflicting pain and suffering, according to the complaint.

The emaciated horse was transferred to a farm in Tornado, where it remains under veterinary care, he said.

Casto posted a $2,500 cash bond Monday evening. As part of his bail agreement, he is not allowed near any animals.

If convicted, Casto could spend one to three years in prison and pay up to a $5,000 fine.

A man named Clint Casto, who gave his address as 913 Amherst Drive, ran for the House of Delegates last year as a Democrat in Kanawha County's 32nd District. He lost in the primary election in May.

@Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A Charleston man was arrested for animal cruelty after allegedly starving one horse to death and almost starving a second one in Big Chimney. The man apparently was a candidate for the state House of Delegates last year.

Clint Casto, 30, of 913 Amherst Drive, was arrested Monday after a Kanawha County humane officer found a dead horse almost complete decomposed in a stall on Casto's property. A second horse was in the next stall and was completely emaciated and barely able to stand, according to a complaint filed with the Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Kanawha County humane officer Johnny Brotherton said in the complaint that there was no food or water in the stalls and there didn't appear to have been any for a long time.

Brotherton said Casto had to drive past the horses to get to his house, so it appeared Casto intentionally and maliciously starved one horse to death and another to the brink, inflicting pain and suffering, according to the complaint.

The emaciated horse was transferred to a farm in Tornado, where it remains under veterinary care, he said.

Casto posted a $2,500 cash bond Monday evening. As part of his bail agreement, he is not allowed near any animals.

If convicted, Casto could spend one to three years in prison and pay up to a $5,000 fine.

A man named Clint Casto, who gave his address as 913 Amherst Drive, ran for the House of Delegates last year as a Democrat in Kanawha County's 32nd District. He lost in the primary election in May.

@Reach Kathryn Gregory at kathr...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5119.