MIAMI – A man accused of killing horses for their meat learned his sentence Friday.
Santiago Cabrero, 20, pleaded guilty last month. He and Luis Cordero were arrested last year, accused of sneaking onto farms and killing two horses, one of which was a thoroughbred racehorse.
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After several psychological evaluations, a judge ruled Cabrera competent to stand trial with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Instead, Cabrera chose to plead guilty.
In court Friday, a judge sentenced Cabrera to five years in prison in addition to the time he has served since his arrest in September 2009.
Two-dozen horses were found slain and slaughtered last year around South Florida, and the case outraged animal lovers nationwide. Horse meat can fetch $40 per pound on the black market.