Santiago Cabrera, who along with Luis Miguel Cordero, is accused of poaching two horses and butchering them for their meat in Florida, will undergo neurologic and psychological testing to determine his competence to stand trial for the crimes.

Miami-Dade County law enforcement authorities arrested Cordero on Sept. 15, 2009, as he attempted to poach two horses located in the pasture of a Northwest Miami-Dade County ranch. He later confessed to a Miami Gardens incident involving a horse that was also poached and slaughtered for its meat.

Six days later, Miami-Dade Police arrested Cabrera in connection with a July 2009 incident involving a horse discovered dead in a pasture near its stables, apparently butchered for its meat. He later confessed to also taking part in the Miami Gardens killing. The killings were two among 20 similar horse poaching incidents that took place in Miami-Dade County and Miramar, Fla., in 2009.

The two men were each charged with multiple felonies, including killing a registered breed horse, armed burglary, and animal cruelty in connection with the killings. The charges carry penalties of up to life in prison. However, Miami-Dade County State’s Attorney Michael Von Zamft said each man could serve a sentence of five years in prison in exchange for pleading guilty to the charges