Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio reports that his Animal Crimes detectives have arrested Jason Valenzuela, age 27, and charged him with seven counts of Animal Cruelty over the improper care of four horses.
Sheriff’s detectives executed a search warrant yesterday at Valenzuela’s home at 53418 N. Four Paugh Peak Rd. in Aguila. Detectives seized the four horses after it was determined that those horses had been neglected and were in dire need of food and medical attention. Three of the horses had dental issues where their teeth had curled, which did not allow them to eat causing starvation, as well as additional medical issues that were not taken care of.
The horses, once medically cleared, will be brought to Sheriff Arpaio’s jail for abused and neglected animals and will be cared for by the Sheriff’s inmates from his Tent City.
In August 2013, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Animal Crimes detectives started the investigation after receiving a tip through Sheriff Arpaio’s Animal Cruelty Hotline.
Detectives immediately visited the Valenzuela property and discovered the horses were in fair condition. Sheriff’s Detectives then advised Valenzuela how to properly care for the horses and continued to check on the horses through the end of the year noting improvements.
On January 31, 2014, a Sheriff’s deputy visited the Valenzuela residence to check on the horses. The deputy noted that the horses were worse off than before and immediately notified Sheriff’s Animal Crimes detectives.
Valenzuela was taken into custody at his home and booked at the 4th Avenue Jail on seven counts of Animal Cruelty.
Currently, Sheriff Arpaio has five (5) horses, 29 dogs, and 27 cats that are adoptable and being taken care of by inmates. For adoption information, the public is asked to call (602)876-1212.