Jan Johnson, a San Joaquin County woman, appeared in court after being charged last month when dozens of dead horses were found on her property. Her lawyer, Kevin Little, stated that all the animals found were very old and declined in health, similar to old people. Johnson was arrested on Jan. 22 and deputies also found an illegal firearm on her property. Despite facing charges related to threatening a public official and criminal threats, there were no animal-related charges as of Wednesday.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff is asking for patience from the community as the investigation into Johnson continues. Sheriff Withrow explained that more charges are expected to be filed as the investigation progresses, with the need to go through a veterinarian and examine every animal on the property. Withrow assured the public that Johnson will be held accountable for her actions and that the district attorney is passionate about animal welfare. Johnson has not entered a plea as of Wednesday, with her next court date set for March 10.
Johnson’s lawyer believes that she will be exonerated, emphasizing her love for animals and history of treating them well. The judge set conditions for her bail, including being searchable for firearms at any time and a stay-away order. Despite the initial charges, the sheriff’s office is working on building a bigger case against Johnson, with more charges expected to be filed as the investigation progresses.
