A Wichita Falls woman accused of cruelty to animals turned herself in to authorities on the morning of Sept 29, and says she is innocent of the charges against her.
Nicole Rae Hiebert, 20, 1702 Hampton, posted $1,500 bond and was released from jail that afternoon at the Wichita County Court House.
She said her business, Down South Horses, buys neglected and abused animals, nurses them back to health and sells them at affordable prices to families whose children might want to have a 4-H or Future Farmers of America project.
"This is bogus. These horses are how I make my living," Hiebert said. "People who know me know I wouldn't do something like this."
Hiebert said one of the Wichita County Sheriff's Office employees investigating the case may have a personal vendetta against her and her family.
"He has a personal thing against me and my family," Hiebert said of the employee, Sgt. Randy Elliot. "He saw I had a 2-year-old mustang that was pregnant and is nursing, and she looks bad, but we've put 250 pounds on her since we got her."
She said the one emaciated-looking mustang mare is what triggered the accusations of animal cruelty. She said horses are not supposed to get pregnant before they are 3 years old, but she acquired the mare after the horse was already pregnant. The fact that the horse is still nursing is what made the mustang look skinny, Hiebert said.
Hiebert said she got a permit from the city of Wichita Falls Animal Control department to have the animals on her and her parents' property on Hampton Road at the beginning of September.
"We just got a livestock permit on Sept. 1, and they (Animal Control) came out and investigated the property multiple times. If the horses were in such bad shape, why weren't they seized then," Hiebert said.
And Hiebert is worried because the Sheriff's Office will not tell her where the animals, nine horses and one mini-mule, are located, and she wonders how they are being treated. Some of the animals are rescues and others are her and her family's personal barrel racing horses.
"I want to know (where they are) because I want to make sure they are taking care of them, so they don't look worse than they did when they were taken from my property," Hiebert said.
WCSO Deputy Kenny Lemons said the office is not picking on Hiebert, and he stands by the charges brought against her.
"She broke the law, and we enforce the law," Lemons said. "Our case is still under investigation."
Lemons said the stolen hay that triggered the investigation into the animal cruelty was found on another property.
A probable cause affidavit stated that Lemons, Elliot, and an investigator with the Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers Association went to the property on Hampton Road to talk with Hiebert about some recently stolen round hay bales. It stated that while on the back pasture, nine horses and one mule were there and showed "signs of neglect." The affidavit said pictures were taken of the horses while they were on the property.
Hiebert said she did buy some stolen hay, and she admits that was a "stupid mistake." But she said she would never neglect her horses, and she plans to fight the animal cruelty charge.
"I am going to fight this until I get my horses back," Hiebert said. "To have a charge like this against me is killing my reputation." Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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