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Man mute on animal neglect
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MONROE - Jason A. Brumley, 28, Blanchardville, stood mute Monday to misdemeanor charges of neglecting to care for a horse with a broken leg and resisting an officer.

Brumley had a signature bond of $1,500 set with additional conditions that he not leave Green County or the state. If convicted for the maximum penalty Brumley could face up to $20,000 in fines or 18 months imprisonment or both.

Court records indicate Brumley and his brother James were hired by Dan Reed, 42, Mount Horeb, to care for his horses at a farm in the W9400 block of Sawmill Road, Town of York. Reed had previously fled to Illinois due to warrants out for his arrest in Green and Rock counties for driving after revocation and failure to appear in court, respectively.

The Brumley brothers were arrested on March 13 after a horse they were caring for had to be put down for a serious leg injury. The farm is owned by Ed Mecum. The Sheriff's Department had been monitoring the farm off and on for the past three or four years. Jason told a deputy he did not know how the horse became injured but noticed the injured leg on March 10.

The horse had a severe laceration to its leg with bone showing. The responding officer also said the leg appeared to be infected despite evidence that the wound had residue of an antibiotic spray. A veterinarian later confirmed the deputy's observation and said there was no guarantee the horse would survive the injury even with proper rehabilitation. The brothers told the responding officer they could not afford to rehabilitate the horse and had the veterinarian euthanize it.

The farm housed about 20 to 30 of Reed's horses, mostly of the painted breed, and the rest appeared to be in good health, according to the deputy's report.

Jason has a pre-trial conference set for June 3. James faces a forfeiture charge of mistreatment to animals and also has a pre-trial conference set for June 3.