reprinted from thedailytimes.com
The trial for a Blount County horse trainer and three others on charges of aggravated cruelty to livestock has been set for July 23.
Long-time Tennessee walking horse trainer Larry Joe Wheelon, 69, Miracle Drive, Maryville, two stable workers and a farrier face charges of soring horses’ feet and legs to make them step higher.
Wheelon and stable hands, Randall Stacy Gunter 45, Ratledge Road, Louisville, and Brandon Randall Lunsford, 32, Blair Loop Road, Walland, all face 18 counts of aggravated cruelty to livestock. Of those, 13 are felony charges and five are misdemeanors.
Farrier Blake Tanner Primm, 45, Glen Road, Louisville, also faces one felony charge of aggravated cruelty to livestock and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit aggravated cruelty to animals.
The trial will be held by Blount County Circuit Court Judge Tammy Harrington. Rob White represents Wheelon; Tyler Weiss represents Lunsford, public defender George Waters represents Gunter and Brian Nichols represents Primm.