The owner of a Niwot horse-boarding facility was arrested on April 20 on suspicion of tampering with evidence for removing 27 horses that were found to be in poor condition by the Boulder County Sheriff's Office on March 15, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

Sgt. Heidi Prentup said that Marcy Tescott-Helmick was arrested after 27 of the horses in question were found missing from the facility. Seven horses had already been removed from Dry Creek Arabians, 7182 North 83 rd St., on March 15 by animal control officers because of their dire condition, Prentup said, which resulted in Trescott-Helmick being cited for nine counts of cruelty to an animal (a misdemeanor) and nine counts of improper care of an animal (a county ordinance violation.)

"Over the past month, animal control officers have been in contact with Marcy Trescott-Helmick's attorney, Jennifer Engelmann, and in an attempt to show cooperation, had scheduled an appointment to meet at the property to evaluate the horses that had been left on the property," Prentup said.

"On April 18, ... officers received information from a person who had boarded horses on the property that Marcy had solicited assistance to move the horses. Officers contacted Marcy leaving the property at approximately 9:30 p.m. with one horse in a trailer. Marcy refused to tell the officer where they were taking the horse."

Returning the next day determine the health of the remaining horses, Prentup said officers found only seven of the 34 horses they expected.

"After consultation with the district attorney's office, a warrant for the charge of tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony, was drafted for the arrest of Marcy Trescott-Helmick," Prentup said. Trescott-Helmick was arrested and held in lieu of a $5,000 bond at Boulder County Jail.

In March, seven horses from Dry Creek were taken to Colorado Horse Rescue, because of their dire condition, the release states, and two additional horses would have been removed, but were not due to concerns for the officers and the horses' welfare. Prentup said there was nowhere near enough food for the horses on the grounds and some horses were standing up to a foot deep in feces.

Treskcott Helmick was arrested for investigation of nine counts of cruelty to animals (and 34 counts of improper care of animal.

Of the 40 horses that remained on the ground, 13 were left under a "notice of warning," with strict instructions as to their care," Prentup said. "The remaining twenty-seven horses were found to be in acceptable condition."

Some horses had been removed by owners following the initial search of the property, Prentup added.