© Provided by KLFY Lafayette Washington husband and wife charged with nine counts of cruelty to animals
ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) – A husband and wife in St. Landry Parish have been arrested on animal cruelty charges.
Rigoberto Martinez-Gonzales, 51, and Sharon Martinez, 51, both of Washington were charged with nine counts each of simple cruelty to animals, according to St. Landry Parish Government.
According to the St. Landry Parish Government, St. Landry Parish Animal Control was contacted about a possible animal neglect case in Washington on Dec. 29.
After arriving at the scene, authorities saw around 15 horses, nine of which were severely malnourished and neglected. The St. Landry Parish Government also said that one of the horses had an open infection on its face.
“Animal cruelty affects more than just dogs and cats, so to see multiple horses in this condition is unacceptable. Our office is committed to enforcing laws on ALL animals, big or small,” said Jessie Bellard.
Disclaimer: All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Copyright 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.