An Eastern Kentucky judge has refused to approve a plea deal for two teens who admitted to attacking a herd of horses, fatally shooting three of the animals.

Pike Circuit Judge Eddy Coleman declined to accept the offer, which included a 30-day sentence for the teens, who were both 17 when the horses were tortured and killed in January, The Appalachian News-Express reported.

The two pleaded guilty last week to three felony criminal mischief charges, five misdemeanor criminal mischief charges and eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. They could each be sentenced to up to 16 years in prison.

On Jan. 25, the teens, driving a truck and armed with two shotguns and a pistol, ran down a herd of horses on a strip mine in Beaver near Elkhorn City. Ghost, a 4-year-old mare shot more than 50 times, Oldie, a 14-year old pony favored by children who rode trails at the Breaks Interstate Park, and Minx, a 2-year-old mare, died, authorities said. Five other horses were wounded