Albert Stanley Cejmer, who lives in the 2800 block of Cline Road in Fruitport Township, was arrested around 4:45 p.m. on Monday at his home following the alleged beating.
Cejmer was arraigned Tuesday in Muskegon County 60th District Court on animal cruelty, a misdemeanor; assault and battery, a misdemeanor; and possession of a firearm by a felon, a felony. He was also charged as a third-offense habitual offender.
The judge set his bond at $25,000 cash or surety and scheduled his preliminary examination for Sept. 18.
According to court records, Cejmer was previously convicted of a prior weapons offense, but had multiple guns in his home on Monday, police said. Authorities obtained a search warrant and recovered those firearms.
The Labor Day incident didn’t involve guns, police said, but rather an ax handle that he alleged used to discipline the horse.
Cejmer called 911 to report a dispute between himself and another man at his home who apparently took the ax handle away from Cejmer after he witnessed him hitting the horse in the head with it, police said.
When the other man expressed concern over Cejmer’s alleged handling of the horse, Cejmer then allegedly assaulted him as well, police said. Cejmer was intoxicated at the time of the incident, police said.
Cejmer said he struck the horse in the head with the ax handle to “discipline” the horse. He told police that he has experience with horses and that’s how he punishes the animal, authorities said.
The horse didn’t appear to have any significant injuries to his head from the alleged blow with the ax handle, police said. The horse remained at the Cejmer residence early Wednesday.
(Muskegon Chronicle - Sept 5, 2012)
