Colorado Sheriff Launches Investigation into Wild Horse Sales

After months of delays, a formal criminal investigation has been launched into Tom Davis, a wild horse buyer from southern Colorado. Davis is accused of violating state laws by shipping hundreds of federally protected wild horses to unknown destinations.

Some of the 1,700 wild horses the BLM sold to known kill buyer Tom Davis. It is believed that they were slaughtered in Mexico. Photo by Carol Walker.

Last week, the Conejos County Sheriff's Office initiated the investigation at the request of state brand commissioner Chris Whitney. Davis, from La Jara, admitted to the commissioner that he broke brand laws.

A ProPublica report published in The Gazette in September detailed how Davis, a proponent of horse slaughter, purchased truckloads of protected wild horses from the Bureau of Land Management. Davis claimed he shipped the horses to 'good homes' across the country, but none have been accounted for. Wild horse advocates suspect they were illegally sent to slaughter, a claim Davis denies.

Colorado law mandates a state brand inspection when livestock is sold or shipped more than 75 miles. Brand records show Davis received over 1,700 horses from the BLM but shipped only 765. None of the horses remain in his possession, indicating nearly 1,000 were shipped or sold without inspection.

Davis admitted to ProPublica in 2012 that he avoided brand inspections to conceal the horses' destinations. When questioned about the legality, Davis retorted, 'Since when is anything in this country done legal?'

Each violation of the brand law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Following the ProPublica report, state agencies hesitated, unsure how to enforce the law. The brand commissioner believed it was the district attorney's responsibility in Alamosa, who disagreed. The case stalled until a Gazette inquiry in early April.

After The Gazette's inquiry, district attorney David Mahonee referred the case to the Conejos County Sheriff, where it was seemingly forgotten again.

'We don't have any open investigations,' Undersheriff Chris Crown stated in late April. 'If Davis didn't get a brand inspection, you need to speak to the brand inspector.'

Brand Commissioner Whitney, informed by The Gazette of the lack of investigation, contacted the sheriff's office. The undersheriff assured him an investigation would be opened.

On Wednesday, the district attorney confirmed the sheriff had opened an investigation. 'I can't say more than that, but I know they are working it,' Mahonee said.

The federal government is also investigating Davis for allegedly selling wild horses to slaughter, violating agreements with the Bureau of Land Management.

Repeated calls to the Interior Department's inspector general's office regarding the investigation were not returned.

Originally Posted By The Gazette