A Pulaski County woman has been charged with 44 counts of animal cruelty after law enforcement officials found malnourished and dead horses on a farm in Wayne county.
Reports are that Jacqueline D. Helton, age 53, of Somerset, also faces charges of concealing diseased animals and improperly disposing of dead animals, according to a story in the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A complaint about the animals’ welfare was filed April 30th by the property owner, who was leasing the Wayne County farm to Helton, according to the arrest warrant.
Officials searched and found four dead horses and 44 living ones, according to the warrant.
Helton has faced similar charges in 2015 when she was charged with animal cruelty, but the counts were dropped after she completed diversion.
Helton has been released from the Wayne County Detention Center on a $750 cash/property bond.
An arraignment in Wayne District Court is scheduled for July 6, according to court records.
