Published: Wednesday, November 03, 2010, 8:40 PM Updated: Thursday, November 04, 2010, 10:38 AM
Mark R. Kent, Press-Register

A 27-year-old Wilmer man was charged Tuesday with cruelty to an animal after Mobile County sheriff’s deputies said he sexually abused a miniature horse in Wilmer last weekend.

Eric Steven Easley was also charged with killing or disabling livestock, which spokeswoman Lori Myles said is a felony.

She added that those two charges were filed against Easley because Alabama has no specific provision in its sexual abuse laws to cover bestiality.

Easley was charged and taken to Mobile County Metro Jail about 7 p.m. Tuesday and was released on bail totaling $4,000 about two hours later, jail records showed.

Myles said deputies were first called Saturday afternoon to a residence on Wilmer Road that serves as a breeding facility for the miniature horses.

She said the owner of the female horse noticed the animal was acting strangely. Myles said the owner and deputies found tail hair tied to a post, indicating someone had tried to tie the tail to the post.

According to Myles, deputies and a veterinarian discovered blood and other evidence that indicated the horse had been sexually abused.

Myles said the owner found a wallet containing Easley’s identification, including a driver’s license and Social Security card, near the horse. Easley was questioned Sunday at the department’s North station and was charged Tuesday afternoon, Myles said.

Easley gave jail officials an address on Saturn Drive, which is about two miles north of where the horse was kept.
Easley was scheduled to appear this morning in Mobile County District Court, according to jail records.

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/11/wilmer_man_charged_with_sexual.html