Man accused in horse’s death pleads guilty to misdemeanors

A 62-year-old man accused of dragging his horse to its death with a pickup truck pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges earlier this month, court records show.

Guadalupe Camarillo Guarneros admitted to four gross misdemeanor counts of conspiracy to commit a crime. Under his plea deal, which was filed Oct.22, prosecutors agreed to seek no more than six months in jail at sentencing.

Camarillo Guarneros had faced a felony animal cruelty charge after his July 3 arrest. That charge will be dismissed at sentencing, according to his plea agreement.

The horse, a brown male named Pinto estimated to be 8 to 10 years old, was found dead outside a residence June 25. Police said video showed a white pickup pulling a horse, and investigators linked the truck to Camarillo Guarneros.

Camarillo Guarneros told detectives he routinely walked Pinto by attaching a lasso around the horse’s neck to his truck and driving slowly around the block, according to his arrest report. He said the horse collapsed and that he unsuccessfully tried to revive it before leaving it behind. He described the death as an accident.

Police said the horse was disposed of by a waste management company before investigators could determine its cause or manner of death.

Court records indicate that Camarillo Guarneros was born in Mexico and at one point in the case had an immigration hearing. His attorney could not be reached.

Contact Akiya Leggio at [email protected].