A Manning man is accused of sneaking into a barn within a mile of his house for at least seven months to have sex with a gelding horse.

Tony J. Hall-Rivas, 47, was arrested Wednesday afternoon at his home in the 47500 block of Northwest Sunset Highway after investigators linked his DNA to a hat found near the barn, said Sgt. Bob Ray, a Washington County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Hall-Rivas was booked into the Washington County Jail on accusations of trespassing, burglary and sexual abuse of an animal, which is a misdemeanor.

"Over time, he became more brazen in his actions," Ray said. "Which is how we were able to obtain evidence that he left behind."

Deputies were aware of the abuse in October 2012 and believe it may have started a month earlier, Ray said. Hall-Rivas was chased off by the horse's owner on several occasions, but was never seen clearly enough to be identified.

Hall-Rivas allegedly broke into the barn late at night and early in the mornings to abuse the horse, Ray said. He added that detectives believe a second horse may have also been abused.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.