Richland man facing nine dog neglect counts remains jailed after plea stalls

Robert Richard Ward III, 47, of Richland remained in the Baker County Jail after a March 6 hearing in Baker County Circuit Court where a negotiated plea on nine animal-neglect counts stalled before Judge Matt Shirtcliff. The charges stem from allegations that Ward failed to care for 12 medium-sized, mixed-breed dogs at his Summit Creek Road residence near New Bridge, roughly three miles north of Richland.

Baker County Sheriff’s Office deputies removed the 12 dogs from the Summit Creek Road home on December 26, 2025, after finding the living conditions unacceptable. The BCSO press release described the scene in stark terms: "Upon arrival, it was clear the conditions of the residence were unsuitable for the dogs living there. The living conditions were described as deplorable, with an overwhelming smell of pet urine and feces." The office said the dogs required veterinary attention, with one dog taken to a veterinary clinic in the back of a Baker County Sheriff’s Office pickup.

Ward was booked into the Baker County Jail on December 23, 2025, and a deputy served a warrant for nine counts of Animal Neglect II on January 23, 2026 while Ward was already lodged. District Attorney Greg Baxter and defense attorney Robert Whitnah had negotiated a plea that included 18 months of probation with a condition barring Ward from having dogs or other animals during probation, $5,000 in restitution to the veterinary clinic that treated the animals, and 35 days in the county jail. During the March 6 hearing, Judge Shirtcliff read each of the nine counts aloud and Ward answered that he was guilty to each count; the judge then asked DA Baxter to describe the facts that led to the charges before accepting any plea, and the agreement was not finalized.

BCSO officials also reported that "The individual tasked with feeding the dogs was unable to enter the residence due to the behavior of the dogs," and that "It was determined that there was no long-term sustainable option for care while Ward was incarcerated. Ward forfeited the 12 dogs." The press release prompted the sheriff to submit a report to the District Attorney’s Office that resulted in the nine-count warrant.

Court records and the Baker County Herald note additional holds listed by the sheriff’s office: Failure to Report as a Sex Offender, Improper Use of 911, and a fugitive hold in the State of Idaho. A jail incident report referenced in court materials states that a deputy identified as Bennett wrote he told Ward to hang up his cellphone but Ward refused, and Bennett then confiscated the phone and handcuffed him. Because Ward has been in custody since his December 23 booking and had already served more than the 35 days included in the proposed plea, he remained jailed when the plea stalled and the court paused to address the prosecutorial account of the case.