Seville Man Charged With Animal Cruelty, Neglect Of 4 Horses

Date Added: July 27, 2023 1:26 pm

Laura Williams
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

SEVILLE MAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY, NEGLECT OF 4 HORSES

Volusia sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Seville man on felony charges of animal cruelty after four horses belonging to him were found neglected – two critically -- resulting in a mare that was eventually euthanized.

Deputies discovered the horses’ condition in early July and seized them with the homeowner’s permission, rushing them to be cared for by veterinarian Dr. Cindy Merrick.

On July 8, deputies responded to 2520 Duncan Road where they observed two mares in a temporary enclosure bare of grass. Both, a tan Palomino and a brown and white paint, were extremely emaciated and lethargic, with their bones visibly pointing under their skin. One had dug a hole and was lying on the ground.

Two other horses in a separate pasture were found to be slightly underweight. All four suffered from malnutrition and lack of medical care, including eye, dental and hoof care.

The homeowner told deputies at the time that he had fallen on hard times and was unable to care for the horses. However, the horses’ condition has likely been deteriorating over several months or years.

Since the horses were removed, they have been receiving around-the-clock veterinary care at an undisclosed facility in New Smyrna Beach. Both mares were found to be in pain with severely overgrown hooves, dehydration and infections. 

On July 22, the vet reported that the condition of the horse known as H2 had worsened, with infections in her right front hoof and other nonrecoverable injuries and she was euthanized.

The first mare, H1, remains in critical condition but her condition is improving daily.

The horses’ former owner, Wayne Prevatt, 65, (DOB 06/13/1958) was arrested Wednesday night on a warrant and transported to the Branch Jail where he was released after posting $6,500 bail.

He was charged with two counts of felony cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and four counts of unlawful confinement/abandoning animals.