A convicted horse abuser faces 27 new animal cruelty indictments handed down by an Augusta County grand jury this week.
Authorities in February seized 30 horses from Terry Lynn Sullivan, 61, of Staunton, after an animal control officer noticed a group of horses on her farm foraging for food and discovered a dead horse in a barn, investigators said.
At least three horses died from malnutrition after the seizure, officials said.
Assistant County Administrator John McGehee said animal control officers were charged with making routine visits to Sullivan’s farm. McGehee said officers reported the horses had access to hay before the February seizure.
McGehee refused to release records of animal control visits to Sullivan’s property despite a Freedom of Information Act request by The News Virginian.
Veterinarians at Mountain View Equine Hospital in Steeles Tavern are working to rehabilitate the most recently seized animals.
In 1996, authorities seized several horses and convicted Sullivan of animal cruelty. A year later, she lost more animals when a judge found her to be in violation of probation. She is also battling a 2008 animal cruelty conviction.
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