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RAFAEL LEAL arrested after animals were found malnourished and emaciated on a Cabazon property

- California, USA -

 

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services arrested 58-year-old RAFAEL LEAL.

 

According to the press release by the agency that was provided to Voice For Us, they received a complaint “from a fellow county employee at code enforcement” who saw underweight horses at the property in the 5000 block of Esperanza Avenue in Cabazon near Almond Street, less than a mile south of Interstate 10.

 

On July 23, 2024, Animal Services responded to the property to investigate.

Officials said that all of the horses were underweight with three of them severely emaciated. Their ribs, hip point, and spines were showing. The poor souls did not have any water and temperatures climbed above 100 degrees.

 

When Animal Services questioned LEAL about the horses, he said that he was going through tough times so the agency offered to find a rescue organization to help out but LEAL said he would think about it.

 

On July 25, 2024, Animal Services returned to the property and realized that the horses’ conditions remained unchanged so they asked LEAL to surrender the horses.

 

LEAL not only did not do anything to improve the horses’ conditions, but also refused to be helped rehoming the emaciated horses.

 

That inevitably led the Riverside County Department of Animal Services to serve a search warrant and remove the animals from the property. Among the rescued animals were forty-five birds, mostly hens and roosters, four dogs, three mares, six puppies, and two stallions.

Officials said they could not see any food or water for the birds.

 

All of the Voiceless Victims were taken to the Western Riverside County Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley for veterinary care.

 

LEAL was arrested on August 14, 2024, and at the time of writing, records show that he is being held in the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on felony animal cruelty charges. Records also show that LEAL’s court date is set for August 16, 2024, at 8:00 a.m.

 

The investigation will be turned over to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review.


Animal Services tell me that no animals were found deceased on the property and none of the rescued ones were euthanized.

 

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Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release provided to Voice For Us by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 


Pictures provided to Voice For Us by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services.



 
 
 

TERRY EUGENE PEGUES arrested – Twenty malnourished dogs and ten dead ones found at his home

- Mississippi, USA -

 

~ Update: September 10, 2024

 

47-year-old TERRY EUGENE PEGUES and his wife, 54-year-old CHARLOTTE FANT PEGUES (both pictured), were indicted by the Lafayette County grand jury last week on ten counts of animal cruelty.

 

The wife, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Mississippi, turned herself into the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office on September 9, 2024. She was later released on a $75,000 bond.

 

In an email to The Daily Mississippian, University of Mississippi Director of News and Media Relations Jacob Batte wrote: “The university is aware of the indictment and the employee has been placed on leave. The alleged charges did not result from any actions taken at or for the university, and the university is not among the parties involved in the investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department. The university will not provide further comment at this time.”

 

The Daily Mississippian reports that the wife’s attorney, Graham P. Carner, released a statement via email on behalf of the client.

He wrote: “Dr. Charlotte Pegues had dedicated her life to service to her community and the University of Mississippi. She has served with integrity and character, which are now unfairly called into question by a rushed indictment. Dr. Pegues is not guilty, and we will aggressively defend against these charges. In order not to be a distraction to the University she loves and that has loved her, Dr. Pegues will be taking a period of personal leave. She has asks for privacy as she works to preserve her good name.”


 

~ Original story:


Deputies with the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 47-year-old TERRY EUGENE PEGUES (pictured).

 

According to the office’s release, on August 4, 2024, deputies responded to a possible animal cruelty case at a residence on County Road 418. Upon arrival, deputies sadly found ten dead dogs who were “still attached  to their collars and chains”, stated the release. Deputies additionally found several other dogs who were alive but “appeared very malnourished.”

 

No one was home when deputies responded so investigators were called in and showed up with a search warrant.

 

Officials rescued twenty (20) dogs who were taken to a local veterinarian office for evaluation and care.

 

On August 7, 2024, PEGUES was arrested and charged with ten counts of animal cruelty. He was booked at the Lafayette County Jail and bond was set at $75,000 which he was able to post and was subsequently released.

 

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing and encourages whoever has information to call deputies at (662) - 234 - 6421 or LOU Crime Stoppers at (662) - 234 - 8799. Thank you!

 

The Daily Mississippian reports that PEGUES and his wife, Charlotte Fant Pegues, who serves as vice chancellor of student affairs at the University of Mississippi, are listed on the deed of trust for a property on County Road 418.

PEGUES’ wife was not mentioned in the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office press release nor there have been no reports of an investigation into her.

 

On August 12, 2024, Jacob Batte, Director of News and Media Relations for the University of Mississippi, told The Daily Mississippian: “University leaders are deeply disturbed and appalled by any instance of animal cruelty. The university is not among the parties involved in the ongoing investigation by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department, and the university is not aware of any charges against a university employee in relation to that investigation. Given the ongoing nature of the investigation, the university will make no further comment at this time.”


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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.









 
 
 

ALEXANDRA RAYA BRAVO arrested – Dog carcasses in cages found in the front yard of her home

- Texas, USA -

 

26-year-old ALEXANDRA RAYA BRAVO (pictured) is facing animal cruelty charges after dogs’ remains were found outside her Montgomery County home.

 

Investigators with the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office received information that possible animal cruelty was taking place at BRAVO’s home on 13343 Chasewood Court in Cut and Shoot. A neighbor reported seeing dog carcasses in cages in BRAVO’s front yard.

 

With this information, investigators were able to obtain a search warrant which was executed on August 6, 2024. The search led to the discovery of “evidence consistent with animal remains”, according to a media release by the Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office. Two dogs were found dead in kennels outside BRAVO’s home. The remains were sent for forensic examination.

 

BRAVO was arrested at her home on August 11, 2024, for two Montgomery County Precinct 1 warrants relating to running a red light and driving without a license. For these misdemeanor charges, BRAVO was held in jail on a $1,500 bond.

 

Montgomery County Precinct 2 then secured the warrant from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office on the animal cruelty charges.

 

On August 12, 2024, at her probable cause hearing at the Montgomery County Jail, Associate Judge Jacqueline Bello set BRAVO’s bond of $1,500 for the animal cruelty charges.

 

BRAVO was released after posting a $3,000 bond. As per the conditions of her release, BRAVO is not allowed to “own” or be around any animals.

 

Scott Engle, with Montgomery County Police Reporter, interviewed a couple of residents and Chief Deputy David Eason regarding the situation at BRAVO’s home. Click here to watch the video.

 

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.

Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

 

 

BRAVO’s mugshot was provided to Voice For Us by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

 

Pictures are still images of a video published by Scott Engle




 
 
 

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