Innocent pleas follow rescue of starving horses

NEWTON FALLS — A Braceville Township woman pleaded innocent to two misdemeanor charges tied to mistreating several horses and other animals on a farm on state Route 82 near the Portage County line.

“Several of the horses had had their tails eaten off by other horses” or had eaten their own tails, “and several were gnashing on the wood of the barn, apparently trying to consume any type of foodstuff available,” Detective Harold Firster of the Trumbull County Sheriff’s office reported.

Melissa Giambrone, 28, who has addresses at the farm, 5796 state Route 82, and in Aurora, pleaded innocent Monday in Newton Falls Municipal Court, where she returns for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 8. If convicted, she could face up to a year in jail.

She was arrested Friday afternoon, after deputies were called to the farm regarding the animals. She was released from the Trumbull County jail later Friday after posting bond.

Read more in Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com