Editor’s Note: Candi Lemarr was acquitted of the charges described in this story. See https://www.nujournal.com/news/local-news/2022/04/02/jury-acquits-horse-trainer/

NEW ULM — The fifth day of a jury trial for a 44-year-old rural Sleepy Eye woman facing 20 misdemeanor counts of animal mistreatment was halted Monday after a jury member tested positive for COVID-19.

Brown County District Court Judge Robert Docherty said two jurors called in sick Monday, discharged the remaining five jurors Monday and said the jury trial for Candi J. Lemarr will be rescheduled and will start over from the first day, including selecting a new jury.

“This is unprecedented times. We took all the steps we could,” Docherty said. “I apologize for this. It’s not something we wanted to do. There is no way around it.”

Docherty said since everyone in the courtroom wore masks last week, he was told by Brown County Public Health that those that were in the courtroom are not required to have COVID-19 tests.

According to court documents, in November 2020, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint about horses at Lemarr’s Sapphire Equestrian Farm being in emaciated condition from an individual who boarded horses there.

Brown County Chief Deputy Jeremy Reed and Dr. Nancy Peterson of the New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center toured the farm and discussed the matter with Lemarr before seven horses and three donkeys were seized.

The animals were transported to the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation in Zimmerman.

The jury trial will be rescheduled at a later date.