Borell Takes Plea Deal

Borell Takes Plea Deal in Horse Abandonment Case
By Pat Raia

Charles Borell, who, along with his daughter, was accused of abandoning more than 40 horses residing on a farm in Mercer County, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to multiple animal cruelty charges under a plea agreement entered in Mercer County District Court today (Sept. 29).

In June, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) responded to a complaint about a herd of allegedly maltreated horses residing on a Mercer County farm. A joint investigation by the KDA and the Mercer County Sheriff's Department revealed that the 43-horse herd met the criteria for being abandoned.

Borell was subsequently arrested and charged with 43 counts of misdemeanor second-degree animal cruelty in connection with the horses' alleged abandonment. A separate warrant was issued for the arrest of his daughter Maria Borell, who trained Runhappy to a 2015 Breeders’ Cup Sprint victory, on identical charges. She has not been arrested.

In August attorney Larry Catlett entered a not guilty plea on Charles Borell's behalf.

However, during a Sept. 29 appearance in Mercer County District Court, Charles Borell pleaded guilty to nine counts of second degree misdemeanor animal cruelty under an Alford plea, according to a Mercer County District Court clerk's office representative. Under an Alford plea, Charles Borell admitted no wrongdoing, but accepted that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict him. The remaining 34 animal cruelty counts were dismissed.

Also under the agreement, Charles Borell will serve two years’ probation and is prohibited from having any ownership role for any animals in the state of Kentucky.

Neither Borell nor Catlett were available for comment.

Angela G. Blank, KDA public relations director, declined comment on the plea deal on grounds that a lawsuit asking the court to rule that the Mercer County Fiscal Court owns the horses and transfer their ownership remains pending.

www.thehorse.com/articles/38245/borell-t...rse-abandonment-case