Draft horse rescue co-founder faces fraud, animal cruelty charges
GUILFORD – The co-founder of a Guilford horse rescue is facing allegations that she defrauded donors and failed to properly care for her animals.
Stephanie M. Algiere-Hanchett, 28, Guilford, was arrested Wednesday by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. She is charged with first degree scheme to defraud and animal cruelty in connection with A Ton of Love Draft Horse Rescue, which she co-founded with her aunt, Susan Beach, in 2010.
According to the group’s website, www.atonoflove.org, the rescue is located on Miller Road in Guilford, on property owned by Hanchett’s parents, Lisa and Michael Algiere. The group’s non-profit status is currently pending.
According to Lt. Richard Cobb of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, Hanchett solicited donations under the umbrella of the organization to cover the cost of a hernia operation for one of the horses in her care, a 2-year old Percheron named Prince Argo. But, according to Cobb, the money was not used for that purpose. Instead, Hanchett never sought medical treatment for the draft horse and used the money to make other purchases, he said.
Cobb specified that the charges were related only to donations solicited for the surgery, and that other donations collected had been used for their intended purposes.
According to the lieutenant, the sheriff’s office was alerted to the matter by an area resident. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers determined that Prince Argo and another horse at the rescue were not being adequately cared for. Both were removed from the premises.
“(The two horses) went to a farm in the Pitcher area,” Cobb said, where they are being cared for while charges are pending.
Hanchett was arraigned in Guilford Town Court Wednesday and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,500 cash bail. She is due to reappear in town court Friday.
According to Cobb, the Chenango County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was aware of the investigation, but their assistance was not needed in the removal of the horses.
Stephanie M. Algiere-Hanchett, 28, Guilford, was arrested Wednesday by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office. She is charged with first degree scheme to defraud and animal cruelty in connection with A Ton of Love Draft Horse Rescue, which she co-founded with her aunt, Susan Beach, in 2010.
According to the group’s website, www.atonoflove.org, the rescue is located on Miller Road in Guilford, on property owned by Hanchett’s parents, Lisa and Michael Algiere. The group’s non-profit status is currently pending.
According to Lt. Richard Cobb of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, Hanchett solicited donations under the umbrella of the organization to cover the cost of a hernia operation for one of the horses in her care, a 2-year old Percheron named Prince Argo. But, according to Cobb, the money was not used for that purpose. Instead, Hanchett never sought medical treatment for the draft horse and used the money to make other purchases, he said.
Cobb specified that the charges were related only to donations solicited for the surgery, and that other donations collected had been used for their intended purposes.
According to the lieutenant, the sheriff’s office was alerted to the matter by an area resident. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement officers determined that Prince Argo and another horse at the rescue were not being adequately cared for. Both were removed from the premises.
“(The two horses) went to a farm in the Pitcher area,” Cobb said, where they are being cared for while charges are pending.
Hanchett was arraigned in Guilford Town Court Wednesday and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $2,500 cash bail. She is due to reappear in town court Friday.
According to Cobb, the Chenango County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was aware of the investigation, but their assistance was not needed in the removal of the horses.
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