JURY CONVICTS WOMAN OF ANIMAL ABUSE

RIVERSIDE – A Riverside County jury today, Feb. 11, 2020, found a Perris area woman guilty of two counts of animal abuse by neglect involving a dog and a horse.

Susan Violet Guillot, DOB: 9-25-57, was convicted of two counts of Penal Code section 597(b) abusing animals by neglect, regarding her dog Karma and her horse Sweetie. Guillot is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2020, in Dept. 64 at the Hall of Justice in Riverside.

On March 16, 2017, investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant on Guillot’s home because she was suspected of stealing money through fraudulent horse sales. Officers from the Riverside County Department of Animal Services assisted because Guillot had numerous animals on her property, including dogs, horses, rabbits, pigs, peacocks, donkeys, chickens, an alpaca, a zebra, and a “zorse” – a combination of horse and zebra. Guillot told investigators she worked with animals on movie sets.

The investigators found many of the animals living in filthy and dangerous conditions. Inside Guillot’s house, investigators found dogs and pigs living in feces and trash covered rooms with no drinking water. Outside Guillot’s house, investigators found animals living in dirty pens without adequate drinking water. Some of the animals were in areas that were so covered with trash it was dangerous for the animals.

Animal Services officers saw two animals, a dog named Karma and a horse named Sweetie, that needed to be seen by veterinarians immediately. The officers worked with Guillot to get Karma and Sweetie medical treatment. While in Guillot’s possession, Karma and Sweetie had been suffering from painful and severe untreated medical conditions. Guillot repeatedly evaded the attempts by officers to get help for the animals. Animal Services officers took possession of Karma, gave her the medical treatment she needed, and found a good home through a reputable rescue operation. Sweetie was also given to a rescue and received medical treatment but eventually succumbed to her injuries.

The case, RIF1705360, was prosecuted by Deputy DA Harold Anderson.