Shingle Springs man arrested in death of impaled horse

CALIFORNIA -- A Shingle Spring man is facing charges of animal cruelty after authorities said he left a horse to die that accidentally impaled itself on a stake at an El Dorado County cemetery.

El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies said Bryon Baker, 56, was arrested in connection with the January death of a horse at Jay Hawk Cemetery in Rescue.

According to officers, Baker stole the horse from the stables of High Heart Ranch.

It is believed that the horse found dead at the Rescue cemetery -- a gelding named Trumpet -- was killed on Jan. 30 sometime between 2 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.

The community of Rescue posted reward fliers around the area calling for the arrest of the person who did it.

Witnesses helped identify Baker after he stole a second horse and was accused of sexually assaulting that horse in May, deputies said.

Baker was arrested Wednesday on charges of grand theft of a horse, animal cruelty, attempted theft and sexual assault, according to officials.
(KCRA - July 5, 2014)