An Enoch man has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to 30 days in jail for a shocking case of animal cruelty and neglect last winter.
In January of 2014, authorities of Enoch City were contacted by a concerned citizen. Responding officers discovered a mare and her colt very near death from starvation and exposure. The colt had actually collapsed and was frozen to the ground in the corral. Elsa, the colt, was cared for the Dust Devil Ranch Horse Sanctuary west of Cedar City, but did not survive.
On Monday, Elsa’s owner, Sonn Kent Barrett, who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and forbidden to own animals.
Ginger Grimes runs the horse sanctuary that cared for Elsa.
“It was a little disappointing, that he only got the 30 days. I’m glad there’s some sort of closure I guess…On my end I don’t think he exactly got what he deserved. But at least there was something and it was a step in the right direction,” Grimes said.
Grimes reminded animal owners that there is always a way out of a problem.
“People need to know that it’s okay to call on your neighbor if there’s a problem, because they could save a life that way,” Grimes said.