Starving horses found at lottery winner’s ranch


February 16, 2012 at 10:36a.m.

Starving horses found at lottery winner’s ranch

SANGER, Calif. (AP) — Eight starving horses have been found on the California ranch of a man who won $40 million in a lottery 11 years ago.

Fresno County sheriff’s deputies arrested 47-year-old Jose Francisco Romo on Wednesday and he was booked for investigation of felony animal cruelty. Bail is set at $40,000.

The Fresno Bee reports Romo signed over ownership of 11 horses on the 40-acre San Joaquin Valley ranch to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The last three horses are being removed from the Sanger ranch on Thursday.

A neighbor called the SPCA about the emaciated horses.

Romo and his wife moved to the ranch shortly after winning the California SuperLotto jackpot in 2001.