Four young Greene County men were charged on Monday, March 3, by sheriff's detectives in connection with the Saturday shootings of two cows off North Mohawk Road.

Sheriff's Detective Capt. John Huffine said Patrick Damion Franklin, 20, of Fort Bragg, N.C., was charged with intentional killing of an animal, while Ben Harold Kite, 18, of 745 Paul Pettit Road, Mohawk, and Dana Chad Warner, 18, of 3200 North Mohawk Road, and Eric N. Long, 19, of Paul Petit Road, Mohawk, were charged with being parties to that offense.

Franklin, a Greene County native, is currently serving in the U.S. Army, authorities said.

Bond for all four was set at $3,000, Capt. Huffine said.

Capt. Huffine said the four were charged after an investigation by Detective Sgts. James Randolph and Mike Fincher of the shooting, early Saturday, March 1, of two Charolais-cross cows in a field at 3700 N. Mohawk Road.

A report filed on Saturday, March 1, by Sheriff's Sgt. Terry Rader about the shooting of the two cows listed their total value at about $1,300.

Capt. Huffine said one cow died, while the second survived being shot in the neck area.

The report said the owner of the two animals told Sgt. Rader about 7:40 a.m. Saturday that about 1:30 a.m., March 1, he had been awakened by the sound of gunshots.

Later that morning, owner David Ooten found the two cows dead of apparent gunshot wounds.

The Sheriff's Department report said the animals had been struck in their necks by gunshots and that Sgt. Rader later found in a roadside ditch several spent 7.62 x 39-mm shell casings.

Sgt. Rader's report said Russian- and Chinese-made "SKS" assault rifles use that caliber of ammunition.

Capt. Huffine said an SKS rifle was recovered during the investigation.

"We don't suspect them of having done anything else at this time," Capt. Huffine said.