Horse rescuer guilty of cruelty

FORT COLLINS, Colo. " A woman accused of mistreating horses and other animals at her Fort Collins rescue operation has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty.

Alesha Matchett faces four years of supervised probation and a still-undetermined amount of community service at her Oct. 1 sentencing.

In a deal with prosecutors, the 42-year-old Matchett pleaded guilty to a single count of animal cruelty on Aug. 8. She originally faced four counts.

Authorities seized 27 underfed animals from the Animal Angels Horse Rescue ranch in December. They included 16 horses, ponies and donkeys; five llamas; five pygmy goats; and one potbelly pig.

The plea agreement also requires Matchett undergo a mental health evaluation and limits her to owning 10 or fewer animals.