Richard Yntema. File photo.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

A North Okanagan farmer who was previously convicted for multiple violations at his deer farm is back in court again facing a dozen charges over the slaughter of untagged animals at his abattoir.

Enderby farmer Richard Yntema had his first court appearance scheduled Nov. 24, in Salmon Arm, on six charges of obstructing and hindering investigators, and six charges for failing to give "reasonable assistance" or "relevant information" to health inspectors regarding unidentified or untagged animals which arrived for slaughter.

According to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency release, Yntema, who owns Valley Wide Meats, was charged under the Health of Animals Act for the violations that allegedly took place between Oct. 26, 2018, and May 15, 2019. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency didn't give any details surrounding the incidents which led to Yntema being charged.

Separately, in June the provincial Ministry of Environment told iNFOnews.ca that it had received multiple complaints from a neighbour saying that birds were carrying slaughter waste from Valleywide Meats and dropping it on their property.

"The complaint alleges that this is the result of feeding slaughter wastes to pigs being raised on the same property," the Ministry said.

The Ministry said it recently issued Yntema a $6,300 penalty Under the Environmental Management Act for failing to provide records requested by an officer. Yntema now has 30 days to pay or dispute the fine with the Environmental Appeal Board.

Yntema has had issues with the law before and in 2016 conservation officers arrived at his property with a warrant and shot his herd of fallow deer after he failed to prevent the animals from escaping. Conservation offices had tried to catch the animals but failed. Around 30 deer were shot.

Yntema had been farming the non-native deer for decades and selling the meat to high-end restaurants. At the time, the Ministry of Environment said it was concerned about the animals establishing an invasive wild population.

Yntema vowed to fight charges laid against him for failing to secure animals and the unlawful possession of live wildlife. He didn't, and instead pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000.

Yntema was not immediately available for comment.

UPDATE: This story was updated 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020 to confirm the Ministry of Environment has recently fined Yntema $6,300.

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