A Richland County, S.C., grand jury handed down indictments last week for brothers James Trexler and Terry Trexler and for their mother, Hazelene Trexler, in connection with an ongoing case of animal abuse involving horses. The indictments add felony charges of ill treatment of animals to existing charges against the family stemming from the last month’s seizure of a total of 45 horses found on various Trexler properties.

According to Elisabeth Perry, director of cruelty prevention at the Richland County Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (HSPCA), James Trexler is charged with four counts of felony ill treatment of animals. His brother Terry Trexler is charged with three felony charges in connection with the seizure of three horses, and Hazelene Trexler faces seven counts of felony ill treatment of animals. Each felony count carries penalties of up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

The Trexlers also face multiple misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Each charge carries penalties of up to 60 days in jail and up to $500 in fines.

Meanwhile, Perry said the HSPCA expects results from forensic testing on horse bones exhumed on Trexler property earlier this month to become available shortly