OCALA, Fla. -- An animal cruelty investigator made a visit five years ago to the feces-filled home recently found with as many as 300 cats -- both dead and alive, according to officials. But no violations were found during that visit.

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IMAGES: Photos From House

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Jonathan Terpstra, 61, was charged last week with 55 counts of animal cruelty, two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of resisting without violence.

The floor of the home was covered with a layer of animal feces between 2 and 3 inches deep, authorities said.

In March 2002, an air conditioning repairman called the county to ask for an investigation of the home. The repairman reported seeing 400 cats inside the home -- some of them dead and others without hair on their backs -- and feces all over the house. The repairman also reported about 75 dogs outside.

Lead Animal Cruelty Investigator Ron Henry went to the property. A 5-year-old report states that 30 dogs were seen on the property, and all the dogs appeared healthy and had food, water and shelter. The report did not mention any cats.

Henry told the Ocala Star-Banner on Monday that when he made the inspection five years ago, a locked gate kept him from getting onto the property.

"All the dogs that I could see from there all had dog houses and appeared healthy," Henry said.

Without signs of a violation or foul odors, Henry said he's not allowed to enter a home.

Terpstra was arrested Friday on the animal cruelty charges. He remained in the Marion County Jail on a $30,000 bond.

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