Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 01/03/08

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DA FILES FELONY CHARGES INVOLVING HORSE ABUSE

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced today that charges have been filed against Santa Rosa residents Monico Monarrez Mijarez and Jose Valencia Galvez in a case involving the maltreatment of horses. Mijarez was charged with one felony count of willful animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of animal abandonment for abandoning an emaciated horse in a dry pasture off Todd Road in Santa Rosa. Galvez was charged with two felony counts of animal abuse and one felony firearms charge.

These charges stemmed from a four month investigation into a report by a member of a non-profit horse rescue organization and a private citizen that a black gelding was found in a third party pasture with no food, water or shelter and in a severely deteriorated condition. The horse rescue personnel provided immediate first aid and reported the incident to authorities. The horse was examined by a veterinarian and was ultimately euthanized.

The District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the Sonoma County Department of Animal Control collaborated in this investigation. Sonoma County District Attorney Investigator Tim Dempsey, a former San Francisco Police Inspector, served as the lead investigator along with Shirley Zindler from Sonoma County Animal Control. Investigator Dempsey, with cooperation from citizens, local businesses and other agencies, was able to develop significant leads and identify Mijarez and Galvez as potential suspects.

On November 8, 2007 Sonoma County District Attorney Investigators, with support from Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputies and Sonoma County Animal Control Officers, served a search warrant at Mijarez’ Stony Point residence. It was the discovery of additional horses during this search that lead to the charges against Jose Valencia Galvez

Both suspects were arrested on January 1, 2008 by Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputies. Mr. Mijarez posted $10,000 bail and will make his first appearance on January 22, 2008 in Department 3. Mr. Galvez posted $20,000 bail and will make his first appearance on January 23, 2008 in Department 3.