Freeport residents face animal cruelty charges

FREEPORT, Fla. (WALA) - Two Freeport residents were arrested after authorities removed several animals, including four malnourished horses from their residence.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said Crystal Esuibel and James Holzapfel were arrested on 11 counts of animal cruelty after authorities removed six horses, four puppies and a piglet from their Four Mile Rd. home on March 7.

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Officials said deputies first removed four of the horses from the home on March 4, after coming to the home the day before and noticing the animals appeared to be in poor health. They returned with a veterinarian, and seized the some of the animals.

Officials said when they began to look into the maltreatment of the horses, they found other animals at the residence. The horses and piglet were taken to Alaqua Animal Refuge for treatment and the puppies were transported to the Walton County Animal Shelter.

Esquibel and Holzapfel were booked into the Walton County Department of Corrections on the third-degree felony charges.