CLEARLAKE – Friday, April 20, has been established as a date for setting a preliminary hearing for Teresa Sanders, a Middletown horse owner, in the Clearlake division of Lake County Superior Court.

Sanders is charged with the mistreatment of more than 80 Arabian horses in a case brought to light by the Lake County Animal Care & Control Agency.

Her case has been delayed several times because no defense counsel has yet appeared in court with her.

Ultimately, Judge Stephen O. Hedstrom appointed Marta Cadloni, a public defender, to represent Sanders.

But there was yet another delay last week when Cadloni said she could no longer represent Sanders because she is leaving the area.

Another public defender, Jason Webster, has taken over Sanders' defense, but needs time to get up to speed on the issues, said Senior Deputy District Attorney John J. Langan, the head prosecutor in the case.

Langan is hopeful that the trial can begin in May, but cautions that there are two murder trials (Edward Munoz and Renato Hughes Jr.) expected to begin the same month and courtroom space may be limited.

E-mail John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

{mos_sb_discuss:2}