Sheriff's office identifies men charged after horses found dead, malnourished near Marengo
The McHenry County sheriff's office has identified two men facing animal cruelty charges after two horses were found dead and five others severely malnourished last week near Marengo.
Jose Hidalgo, 45, of Elgin and Johnathan E. Herrera, 21, of Harvard were arrested Friday on the 2900 block of Miller Road, sheriff's deputy Sandra Rogers said Tuesday.
The horses were discovered while McHenry County Animal Control officers were verifying vaccine records at a dog breeding operation.
The Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society in Barrington Hills removed the malnourished animals - four miniature and one full-sized horse - from the Marengo-area farm and brought them to its Barrington Hills facility for treatment.
The two miniature horses that were found dead appeared to have starved, society leaders said.
The other animals are expected to recover.
Hidalgo was charged with two counts of cruelty to animals and two counts of animal owner duties, both misdemeanors, Rogers said.
Herrera was charged with one count of each.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.