A horse trainer accused of felony animal cruelty has been acquitted by a jury in Val Verde County. Rodolfo Sanchez, 62, was found not guilty of cruelty to a livestock animal following a trial concerning an incident that occurred at the county fairgrounds in April 2022.
The jury, composed of seven women and five men, deliberated for just over an hour before reaching their verdict. The case stemmed from an incident where Sanchez was accused of whipping a three-year-old mare. Megan Fields captured the event on her cell phone and subsequently called 9-1-1, leading to an investigation by the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office. Animal control officers and deputies responded to the scene, initiating the animal cruelty investigation. Sanchez was later arrested, and the horse, a quarter horse mare named Fool For It, was seized and relocated to a horse sanctuary.
Trial Proceedings and Testimony
The trial, presided over by 83rd Judicial District Judge Robert E. Cadena, began with testimony on Wednesday. The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Shawver-Savino, presented its case, with Eagle Pass attorney Ricardo Ramos representing Sanchez.
The first witness for the prosecution was Megan Fields, who recorded the incident. The video, played for the jury, appeared to show Sanchez repeatedly whipping the horse while it was lying on its side, tied to a tree. Jurors also heard from Emmett R. Salinas of the county’s animal control department, Deputy Juan Parra, and Investigator Mario Vargas, who conducted and assisted with the investigation. A video of Sanchez’s interrogation, conducted after his arrest, was also played. In the interview, Sanchez expressed confusion about the investigators’ questions and claimed he did not know why he acted as he did, stating he had never used such methods before and believed he had done it wrong.
The prosecution also called Dr. Laura Norland, a veterinarian, and Kristine Fullerton, a breeder, owner, and trainer of champion quarter horses. Dr. Norland discussed her examination of Fool For It after the horse was confiscated, while Fullerton testified about general horse handling and training practices. During cross-examination, Dr. Norland stated she did not know if the horse had sustained injuries from the incident.
Defense Arguments and Witnesses
The defense presented its case on Thursday, calling two witnesses: Shae Cox, a horse owner and trainer, and Francisco “Frank” Dena, a horse owner who had horses trained by Sanchez. Shae Cox testified that she volunteered to care for Fool For It after viewing the video online. She described the horse as attempting to strike out at humans and noted that the mare was from an aggressive bloodline, even suggesting the horse should be euthanized. Cox stated that Sanchez’s treatment of the horse fell within general agricultural practices and that the horse had no whip marks after the incident. Francisco Dena testified that he had known Sanchez for years and had never witnessed him mistreat horses.
Closing Statements and Verdict
The prosecution called a final witness, Margaret Ransom, owner of The Bridge, an equine sanctuary where Fool For It, now named Eleanor, resides. Ransom disputed Cox’s claims, stating that Eleanor is gentle and has never exhibited aggressive behavior.
Closing statements were delivered by both attorneys. Shawver-Savino argued that the state had met its burden of proof, defining torture as an act causing unjustifiable pain and suffering and referencing Sanchez’s admission that his actions were wrong. She urged the jury to send a message that such treatment of horses is unacceptable in Val Verde County and to find Sanchez guilty. Ramos reminded the jury of their duty to uphold the presumption of innocence and the state’s burden of proof. He highlighted the lack of evidence regarding the horse’s condition, the absence of the whip used, and the missing report from the initial veterinarian. Ramos contended that Sanchez waved the whip to encourage the horse to rise, not to inflict injury, and asked the jury to find Sanchez not guilty.
The jury began deliberations on Thursday afternoon and reached a verdict within approximately an hour and a half. Sanchez was found not guilty, and Judge Cadena informed him that he was free to go. Judge Cadena thanked the jurors for their service, acknowledging the difficulty of the case.
