A Spanish Fork man has been charged with killing a well-known one-eared wild stallion that thrashed on the ground for almost two days after being shot last fall, according to federal charges.
A U.S. District grand jury handed up a 10-count indictment last week charging Kevin M. Binks, 32, Spanish Fork, in connection with the harassment, abuse and death of a one-eared gray stallion near Delta in September.The indictment, unsealed Monday, alleges Binks was in the Swasey Springs area of Millard County on Sept. 24 and spent some time harassing wild horses. The next day, Binks "did willfully and maliciously injure, treat inhumanely, and cause the death" of the wild horse, according to the indictment.
Bureau of Land Management investigators said the stallion was shot in the hind legs with a rifle near the Swasey Mountain area, about 30 miles west of Delta, said U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch.
"The stallion was well known to horse enthusiasts in the area and was easily recognized because he had only one ear," Rydalch said. "The stricken horse struggled for about 40 hours attempting to raise himself to a standing position, causing considerable injury to his head and body as he repeatedly thrashed against the ground."
A BLM ranger discovered the horse and euthanized him, Rydalch said.
Binks is charged with two violations of the federal Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act as well as possession of firearms by a felon and making false statements to a federal agent and making false declarations before a federal grand jury.
If convicted, Binks could be sentenced to spend more than 50 years in prison.
Federal agents arrested Binks in Nephi Monday. He is scheduled for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Boyce Wednesday.
You can reach Hans Camporreales by e-mail at hans@desnews.com