District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua said Monico Monarrez Mijarez has been charged with a felony count of willful animal cruelty and a misdemeanor count of animal abandonment. Jose Valencia Galvez has been charged with two felony counts of animal abuse and a felony firearms charge, Passalacqua said.
Both Santa Rosa men posted bail and will appear for arraignment in Sonoma County Superior Court later this month.
The charges follow a four-month investigation of a report by a member of a non-profit horse rescue organization and a private citizen that a black gelding was found in a pasture without food, water or shelter, Passalacqua said.
The horse was in a severely deteriorated condition and was euthanized after being examined by a veterinarian.
Passalacqua said a search warrant was served Nov. 8 at Mijarez's Stony Point Road residence and the discovery of additional horses there led to the filing of the charges.
Citizens, local businesses Sonoma County Animal Control and other agencies helped provide significant leads that led to the identification of Mijarez and Galvez as potential suspects, Passalacqua said.
