Detectives were tipped off Wednesday by the owner of the rescue, who lives in Oklahoma. He informed detectives that concerns had risen about the way the operation was being run and that numerous items had gone missing.
Tulare County's Ag Crimes Unit, led by Sgt. Mike Yandell, confronted Jess Ahumada, who manages A&F (Always and Forever) horse rescue in Exeter. They learned that nearly $7,000 in equipment and tack had been taken. Detective Randy Gunderman, who spearheaded the investigation, said Ahumada also diverted funds from the rescue.
"The investigation is in the early stages," Gunderman said. "The [total] dollar amount has yet to be determined."
Ahumada did give detectives a statement, but Gunderman said he couldn't discuss what was said.
Most of the equipment was returned to the group.
Ahumada was booked Wednesday night into Tulare County Pretrial Facility. He's being held on $35,000 bail. Gunderman said they're seeking embezzlement charges but may also file paperwork to back up a grand theft charge. Ahumada could be in court Friday for an arraignment, if he doesn't bail out.
The detective said there were 12 horses at the Exeter-based ranch as of Thursday morning. The nonprofit's owner and his son are expected to spend the next several months at the rescue to "get it back to where it was," Gunderman said.
How Ahumada duped the public (and the press) in a story from 2014
When local rancher Kim Oviatt noticed nearly a dozen starving horses lying in the dirt, he knew something needed to be done. The horses were nearly dead, he says.
The Seville-area farmer called the Sheriff's Department who managed to locate the owner, who has been accused of abandoning the horses because of the costs related to feeding and maintaining the large animals. While 52-year-old Miguel Pena makes his way through the court system on animal neglect charges, the county and local groups are tasked with taking care of the horses, and the need is urgent.
Two horses died shortly after they were located by Oviatt in late September. The others are being fed and taken care of by the Sheriff's Department, which plans on placing the horses up for adoption once the case against Pena is settled.
Oviatt said the horses lived on dirt and short weeds for as long as they were in the dry pasture. He and others say the drought and its impact on feed prices are leading to more horses being abandoned countywide. The county this year has already surpassed the 53 horses abandoned last year.
"These horses had been starved. They were lying on the ground because they were too weak to get up," Oviatt said. "I am hoping people see that they can't treat animals this way. It's a plague, an epidemic and people need to understand they will go to jail if they act in a similar way."
Travis Shaw, a sheriff's detective who handled the case, said people like Pena may not understand the costs associated with a horse. He said finding one or two horses a month isn't rare, finding a dozen is.
While Pena's case is not common, more horses are being left in dry fields to fend for themselves. The county's animal control agency expects a nearly 10 percent increase of horses being abandoned this year. In the last two years alone, A&F Equine Rescue has saved 65 horses. Four have died.
Horses are typically found malnourished and lacking basic medical care. In some cases their shoes haven't been trimmed making it difficult for them to walk. Just last month, deputies transferred a horse from the Richgrove area to Jess Ahumada Jr. at A and F. The horse was 300 pounds underweight.
Ahumada named the horse Red.
"We've found horses tied to railroad tracks. Red was left in a grape field," Ahumada said. "We have to slowly get these horses back to health. It all depends on the horse and how badly they were treated."
It can take up to six months to get a horse back to their normal weight, Ahumada added. Because his non-profit organization relies on donations, Ahumada and his volunteers are paying big bucks to feed and maintain the horses. The Sheriff's Department is forking out more than $600 a month just to feed the 10 horses found in September.
A and F has almost as many horses to take care of at its facility in Exeter.
Throw in veterinary costs, pens and water and the horses mean big bucks each month. The goal is to adopt them out, but that can take months and thousands of dollars.
Hay prices can reach as much as $20 a bale. And because of very little rainfall the past two years, pastures are mostly dry.
The Humane Society of the United States recommends supplementing pasture-fed horses with hay. But because of hay prices, owners are paying heavily, in some cases even bringing it in from other states at hundreds of dollars a ton.
Horses can eat 2 percent or more of their body weight each day.
Patrick Hamblin, the county's animal control manager, said he's concerned about the spike in people abandoning horses.
He understands the costs are steep for owners facing financial hardship, but he says there are options.
"First, if people can't take care of their animals, they need to contact animal control," Hamblin said. "There are alternatives. People need to reach out to us."
Unfortunately, many owners don't take advantage of local resources or groups and leave horses to die or be found by others, such as Oviatt.
"People need to understand the importance of being proactive," Hamblin said. "This year has been significant for people abandoning horses."
(Visalia Times - Aug 18, 2016)
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