Alleging poor conditions, horse trainer charged with stealing mare from Beaufort Co. home
An equestrian from Charleston County was charged with stealing a horse from a Saint Helena Island resident after voicing concerns that the mare was not being properly cared for, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
The 32-year-old woman, who describes herself as a horse trainer, was charged Jan. 7 with larceny of livestock, according to Beaufort County jail records. The offense was filed as a misdemeanor because the value of the stolen horse was less than $2,000.
Deputies responded the morning of Jan. 5 to a home in rural St. Helena near the intersection of Seaside and Pea Patch roads. The homeowner had met with the suspect earlier to buy a horse from him, he told police.
During their meetup, the woman commented on the “poor condition” of a black-and-white paint mare next door and said she was going to take the mare with her, according to a sheriff’s office incident report. The homeowner assumed she was joking and laughed at her comment, he told police.
But shortly after they parted ways, the homeowner received a call from the woman: She had taken the mare and planned to bring it to a Charleston-area veterinarian for treatment and to “microchip the horse in her name,” she reportedly told the man.
The Beaufort County deputy then called the alleged thief, who denied stealing the horse. After being told Charleston police would visit her residence to look for the mare, she told the officer she did not know the address of the barn where she kept her horses.
The woman began claiming the deputy was “harassing her” and threatened to sue the sheriff’s office for harassment, according to the incident report.
A few minutes later, the woman called the owner of the horse and admitted to taking the mare, the deputy noted. She claimed another next-door neighbor gave her permission to take the animal, although that neighbor told police he had previously informed the woman that the horse was not his.
Police later reviewed the front-door security footage of the conversation between the suspect and the neighbor, which began when she approached the home and said she was at the wrong address. The audio captured the woman suggesting the mare had colic, a condition associated with abdominal pain that is a leading cause of death in horses.
Later that afternoon, the suspect returned to the home with the mare in a horse trailer behind her truck, the report says. After returning the horse, she told the deputy she lied about the theft “because she has anxiety.”
During the interview, the officer noted the woman’s concerns for the horse “changed multiple times” — she initially cited the mare’s living conditions but later suggested the animal was pregnant or could have worms.
Because the owner of the horse wished to press charges, the Beaufort County deputy told the woman that a warrant for her arrest would be obtained tomorrow morning. She was given two trespass notices barring her from the properties of the horse owner and the neighbor, according to the incident report.
Prior to the arrest, the deputy interviewed the Charleston County veterinarian who had treated the stolen horse at the suspect’s request. The doctor, who specializes in horses, said she was not initially aware the horse was stolen. Once she was “aware of the situation,” she halted treatment and did not microchip the mare, she told police.
The documented police interview with the veterinarian did not include the doctor’s opinion on the horse’s health. Reached by a reporter via phone, a staffer at the equine clinic said she could not comment on the health of the animal, citing privacy guidelines.
The woman was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center the same day of her arrest on a personal recognizance bond, meaning she would not be required to pay bail unless she violated court conditions or missed a proceeding.
Under South Carolina law, a misdemeanor count of larceny of livestock is punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 or up to 30 days in jail. If the stolen livestock is worth more than $2,000, the charge is elevated to a felony that can result in up to 10 years in prison.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREWhy didn't we name the suspect?
The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette typically do not name those charged with misdemeanor crimes unless they are in a position of authority or public trust.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM.
