The Escambia County Sheriff’s Department arrested Craig M. Smith, 24, of Pensacola, Fla., in connection with the April 17 shootings in Beulah, Fla., which left Desmond Davis’ five dogs dead, nine horses either dead or in need of being euthanatized, and one horse injured. (To view the original article, see www.TheHorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=6847.)

According to the Pensacola News Journal (www.pensacolanewsjournal.com), Smith faces 13 felony counts of abuse–five counts for cruelty to animals resulting in a cruel death, and eight for killing or abusing horses. Also added to the list is one count of using a firearm while committing a felony, and two felony counts of armed trespassing.

Police already had Smith in custody on a possession of a firearm by a convicted felon when they charged him with the additional felonies. Police ballistics experts were able to link the .22 caliber pistol in his possession to the casings recovered from the Davis farm.

If convicted, Smith could receive a maximum of 15 years in prison for each horse that died as a result of the shooting, five years for each dog that died, five years for firearm possession by a felon, and five years for each count of trespassing with a firearm