Rancher Sentenced to Jail for Animal Cruelty
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Eighteen months after he was accused of starving hundreds of horses, Buellton rancher Slick Gardner was sentenced to a year in jail for his no-contest plea to one count of animal cruelty and one count of grand theft.
As part of the plea deal, Gardner agreed to give up more than 400 wild horses and was barred from writing checks during five years’ probation.
He remained free pending an appeal.
Gardner’s attorney, Steve Balash, tried unsuccessfully Wednesday to withdraw a plea agreement entered into last month.
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