UPDATE: Black Forest horse owner’s trial delayed

The jury trial for a Black Forest woman who is accused of neglecting her horses has been delayed until May.

Sherri Brunzell previously pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty, abuse and neglect.

The charges stem from the discovery of several malnourished horses and llamas living among dead carcasses on property that Brunzell owns in Black Forest.

Trial preparations were scheduled to begin on February 13, but the judge in the case granted a motion to delay the start of the trial until May 26.

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A gag order is now in place for a Black Forest horse owner’s trial.

The judge granted the order at a pretrial hearing this morning.

Sherri Brunzell is charged with animal cruelty, abuse and neglect.

The judge denied a request from the defense for a change of venue.

Brunzell’s attorney argued that the case has gotten widespread attention and thousands of comments from the public, and because of that, there was no way an impartial jury could be found.

But the judge says fair jury selections have been conducted in the county with higher profiles than this.

While investigators cannot talk about the case, the general public can.

Organizers of the Facebook page “Justice For Dual Peppy” were in the courthouse, and they want to see the legal system play out.

“The well being of the horses, that they not be returned to her. That there is some admission that something happened that should not have happened,” said Anna Blake, who’s been monitoring and leading the Dual Peppy Facebook page.

Brunzell has been making bond payments as ordered, on time.

That money is going to care for the horses.