An Aiken woman has been charged with 11 counts of ill-treatment of animals following an investigation into alleged horse neglect on her property.
Authorities seized a total of 11 horses Wednesday from R & B Way, located off Shiloh Church Road.
Cynthia Vest, 45, of 964 R & B Way, remains in custody at the Aiken County Detention Center under a $22,000 bond.
According to a press release, Aiken County Code Enforcement, assisted by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, executed a search warrant Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation into animal mistreatment.
Vest is currently the only person charged. She is accused of violating South Carolina Code 47-01-0040(A), a misdemeanor offense related to the ill treatment of animals.
Vest has a prior record of similar and unrelated charges. In May, she pleaded guilty to animal neglect in Aiken County and was fined $465. In August, she was charged by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office with meth distribution, charges that remain pending. She spent six days in jail in that case before making bond.
The investigation into the recent case remains open and ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Aiken County Code Enforcement by emailing enforcement@aikencountysc.gov
Under South Carolina Code 47-01-0040, anyone who knowingly or intentionally mistreats an animal by overworking, depriving of food or shelter, or inflicting unnecessary pain is guilty of a misdemeanor. Penalties range from fines of $100 to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail for a first offense, and up to two years in prison or $2,000 in fines for repeat offenses.
