A horse trainer was arrested last week after investigators reviewed a video showing repeated acts of abuse against a horse under his care.
According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Agriculture Detective James Manning arrested Benito Cotto Colon on Friday, January 16, on a charge of animal cruelty.
The investigation began on January 15, when Agriculture Investigator Justin McClure received an email from a horse owner who reported she had video evidence of Cotto Colon kicking and punching her bay Paso Fino horse and forcefully pulling on its bridle. The owner stated she had hired Cotto Colon approximately a year and a half earlier to train and care for the horse.
After reviewing the video, Investigator McClure observed Cotto Colon kicking the horse in the abdomen four times. Deputies noted the horse displayed clear signs of distress and fear during the incident.
Investigators later located a Facebook post made by Cotto Colon in which he acknowledged that he was the individual shown in the video. In the post, Cotto Colon stated the horse had nearly thrown him prior to the recording and admitted his actions were not appropriate for horse training.
Based on the video evidence and the results of the investigation, deputies established probable cause for Cotto Colon’s arrest. The MCSO Agriculture Unit also responded to the property with a veterinarian to assess the horse. The veterinarian determined the animal was in good health.
Cotto Colon was located, taken into custody, and transported to the Marion County Jail.
