Richard Decker sent emails and left letters at farms and stables in Sussex County with an odd request: he wanted to have sex with their cows and horses.

Then, Vernon police say, Decker threatened violence when farmers obviously rejected him. In one Oct. 2 email, he threatened to go to a farm and beat a woman with a wooden stick, according to an affidavit of probable cause in the case against him.

The New Jersey Herald reported that a Superior Court judge ordered Decker, a 31-year-old Vernon resident, detained in jail pending trial. Sussex County Assistant Prosecutor Magdelen Czykier told the judge on Wednesday that Decker would also leave handmade metal tire deflation devices in the driveways of the farms that denied him, the Herald reported.

The prosecutor’s office did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday from NJ Advance Media.

The case stretches to earlier this year. Vernon police said in late January it was investigating reports of someone placing spikes near driveways and farm entrances.

Police now allege Decker contacted the farms between July and October of this year. Police searched his home and say they found several weapons, including a .22 caliber firearm that Decker said he built himself.

Police also found two arrows with explosives attached, metal spikes and several jars containing explosive materials, including flash powder, ferric oxide and magnesium, according to court documents.

Decker also admitted during a police interrogation that he’d contacted the farms and asked to have sexual relationships with the animals. He also told police he obtained the explosive material by dismantling fireworks, according to the affidavit.

He faces multiple charges, including cyber harassment, procuring an animal in a sexual manner, terroristic threats and various weapons charges.

Vernon Police said this homemade tire slashing device was found in a driveway in their town.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.