Bradenton man accused of 'molesting' horse
STAFF REPORT
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PALMETTO -- A 63-year-old man who authorities say twice pushed his entire arm into a horse's vaginal cavity was jailed Tuesday on a felony-level animal cruelty charge.
Manatee County sheriff's deputies said the man, Bradenton resident Leslie M. Gee, who is not a veterinarian, caused "unnecessary pain and suffering" to the horse, a bay mare named Bella, stabled in the 2500 block of 29th Street East in Palmetto.
The horse's owner, Donna Marie Holmes, 48, said she first confronted Gee in a horse stall Monday morning after she noticed him standing near Bella with his hand at the horse's rear end.
Gee said he had ridden the horses two weeks ago when he was looking to buy one and said he had permission to ride the horses and to take care of them, according to sheriff's reports.
Holmes told Gee she has never given him permission to do any of those things. She instructed Gee, who has a friend in the neighborhood, to keep away from her home and her horses. Then Holmes called police.
Authorities said the horse was bleeding from the penetration. Holmes said Bella made "painful" noises, and she said the horse was having trouble breathing.
Gee could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But he told deputies that he did not put his hand into the horse. He said he got blood on his shirt when the horse urinated on him.
A witness, however, told police he saw Gee "molesting" the horse.
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STAFF REPORT
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PALMETTO -- A 63-year-old man who authorities say twice pushed his entire arm into a horse's vaginal cavity was jailed Tuesday on a felony-level animal cruelty charge.
Manatee County sheriff's deputies said the man, Bradenton resident Leslie M. Gee, who is not a veterinarian, caused "unnecessary pain and suffering" to the horse, a bay mare named Bella, stabled in the 2500 block of 29th Street East in Palmetto.
The horse's owner, Donna Marie Holmes, 48, said she first confronted Gee in a horse stall Monday morning after she noticed him standing near Bella with his hand at the horse's rear end.
Gee said he had ridden the horses two weeks ago when he was looking to buy one and said he had permission to ride the horses and to take care of them, according to sheriff's reports.
Holmes told Gee she has never given him permission to do any of those things. She instructed Gee, who has a friend in the neighborhood, to keep away from her home and her horses. Then Holmes called police.
Authorities said the horse was bleeding from the penetration. Holmes said Bella made "painful" noises, and she said the horse was having trouble breathing.
Gee could not be reached for comment Wednesday. But he told deputies that he did not put his hand into the horse. He said he got blood on his shirt when the horse urinated on him.
A witness, however, told police he saw Gee "molesting" the horse.
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