Horse trainers accused of animal cruelty headed to trial
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POCATELLO — Two people charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty are headed to trial following a pre-trial conference Thursday.
Horse trainers Kristopher Fagan, 22, and Samantha Arave, 20, were charged with four misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals after 15 horses and a mule were found in poor condition while in their care and while being boarded at the county fairgrounds in Pocatello last month.
Fagan is also charged with theft of services by deception, also a misdemeanor.
Arave and Fagan pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
A pre-trial conference was held Thursday, but no deal was struck in the case. Fagan and Arave are due back in court July 14.
Fagan and Arave were charged after the animals were found in poor condition at the fairgrounds.
One of the horse’s owners was alerted to conditions at the stables by a craigslist.com post with photos showing the poor conditions of the animals, and she notified the sheriff’s office.
Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Graham said last month that if convicted, the trainers could be sentenced to up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count.
This story was originally published in the Idaho State Journal. It is used here with permission.
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