SPEEDWELL, Tenn (WVLT) -- A Speedwell farmer is facing 72 counts of animal cruelty after dead and severely malnourished cattle were found at his property last week.

Union County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Mike Butcher says John Bullard, of Speedwell, faces 60 counts of animal cruelty in Union County.

Claiborne County Authorities have charged him with 12 more counts. All 72 counts are misdemeanors.

Butcher says UT Agriculture authorities, Union County Humane Society employees, and police were called to Bullard's property after a neighbor reported seeing the dead cows, including one in a nearby creek which serves as a water supply.

Butcher says investigators found six dead cows on his property and 60 more which they say are severely malnourished.

Bullard was arrested, charged, and posted a $5,000 bond in Union County Tuesday afternoon.

He's due in court in Union County court on Friday.

A Volunteer TV reporter reached Bullard by phone on Thursday. At that time, Bullard told us he was making plans to remove the dead cow from the creek and bury it along with other dead cows.

Bullard faces charges in two counties because a portion of his property sits in both Union and Claiborne Counties in Speedwell, Tennessee.

No word yet on a court date on the Claiborne County charges.

Stay connected to Volunteer TV News and VolunteerTV.com for continued coverage of this developing news story.