Woman Facing Trial on Animal Cruelty Charge

A Redding, Connecticut, woman accused of neglecting two horses is headed to trial after a judge denied her request to enter a special probation program.

Lisa Lind-Larsen is charged with animal cruelty and faces two years in prison if convicted. She has pleaded not guilty in Danbury Superior Court.

Judge Susan Reynolds said Larsen is not eligible for the rehabilitation program because she was charged with a crime in 1992.

The News-Times reports that the 75-year-old Lind-Larsen is fighting a lawsuit by the state Department of Agriculture, which is seeking permanent custody of the horses.

The state seized the animals from Lind-Larsen's property in July after finding them fly-bitten, dehydrated and emaciated.

The horses are at a state facility in Niantic and officials say they are doing well.