Delaware man charged with raping a 31 year old mare, wasn't the first time

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DOVER, Del. (AP) — Authorities have charged a Delaware man with tying up and sexually abusing ponies at a county-run equestrian center.

New Castle County police began an investigation in February after receiving multiple reports of injured horses at Carousel Park and Equestrian Center. Police said park staff arriving for work often found lesson ponies with cords tied around their legs just above the hoof.

One of those incidents resulted in a 17-year-old mare being injured and having difficulty walking.

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On April 20, detectives learned of an assault on a 31-year-old mare. Security footage showed the same male suspect retrieving a feed bucket from the barn and entering the mare’s stall. The suspect was seen tying up the horse’s rear legs, removing articles of clothing, and ultimately sexually assaulting the horse. Because of clothing covering the suspect’s face, police were unable to identify him.

A special investigations squad then enhanced electronic surveillance equipment at the facility and began nightly surveillance.

At about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, detectives said they saw a man entering a horse’s stall and tying up the rear legs of the pony. They said they entered the stall and found Michael Riego, 31, of Hartly hiding in the corne

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