27 dead horses found in San Joaquin County animal neglect investigation, woman arrested
CLEMENTS — Law enforcement officials investigating severe animal neglect in San Joaquin County arrested a woman after 27 horses were found dead and several others were discovered to be malnourished.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said animal services executed a search warrant Wednesday at multiple properties in the Clements area, where they discovered the deceased and malnourished animals.
The sheriff's office said that, in addition to the deceased animals, 74 other horses were rescued and 13 others were euthanized "due to their extreme conditions due to neglect." One bull was also euthanized due to being in a similar condition while five donkeys and three alpacas were also rescued.
The woman arrested was identified as Jan Johnson, 62.
Johnson owned the farms the animals were located at, the sheriff's office said. One was on North McIntire Road near Highway 12 and another was on Atkins Road near Highway 88.
Jan Johnson's history with the law
Johnson had a plea deal related to a financial elder abuse case more than a decade ago, the sheriff's office said. Investigators are still looking into whether or not that money was used by Johnson to purchase horses.
The sheriff's office also said that Johnson had a warrant out for her arrest for allegedly making threats to a school, employees and officers.
Rita Long, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said the department followed up on several calls of animal neglect related to Johnson's horses.
That's when the alleged threats to law enforcement officials were made. Long said the sheriff's office returned with a warrant for her arrest and to search the property for the horses.
"It's traumatizing to all involved," Long said. "It was three different properties and that's why there were so many livestock on the premises."
Johnson has since posted bail after being booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. She is scheduled to be arraigned on February 5 on charges of cruelty to an animal, threatening a public official, making criminal threats, and possession of a short-barrel shotgun.
Clements is located about 40 miles southeast of Sacramento and about 23 miles northeast of Stockton.
