Animal cruelty charges against group who sacrificed animals during Santeria ritual dropped

Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies say 11 people were arrested Friday, March 16, 2018, at this residence and charged with cruelty to livestock animals in what the office called a possible animal sacrifice. Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputies say 11 people were arrested Friday, March 16, 2018, at this residence and charged with cruelty to livestock animals in what the office called a possible animal sacrifice. Photo: /Staff Photo: /Staff Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Animal cruelty charges against group who sacrificed animals during Santeria ritual dropped 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

Criminal charges against the majority of a group of people accused of animal cruelty for sacrificing animals during a Santeria ritual have been dropped, according to online records.

The eleven people were arrested in March after Bexar County sheriff's deputies interrupted a religious ritual at a home in the 11400 block of Bronze Sand Road and found several dead and dismembered goats, chickens and other animals.

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As of Tuesday, 10 of the people involved in the ritual have had their charges dropped. It remains unclear whether the remaining suspect is still facing charges.

Those cleared include Alexander Gene Campos, 23; Ivan Felipe Gonzalez, 24; Carmen Maria Gonzalez-Trujillo, 41; Cynthia Gabriell Martinez, 29; Liza Mercado, 46; Ramon Patino Jr., 65; Luiz Rodriguez Ortiz, 41; Robert Talamantez, 55; Marie Murcia, 65; and Irma Garza Talamantez, 64.

Online Bexar County records could not confirm the charge against Arteaga Ariel Torres, 39, has been dropped, and authorities with the district attorney's office and district clerk's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Animal cruelty is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine of $4,000.

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In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled animal cruelty laws or ordinances that target specific religions are unconstitutional.

In 2009, a Euless man sued the city for prohibiting him from sacrificing goats on his property. Santería high priest Jose Merced eventually won his case when the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals cited the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act while ruling in his favor.

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Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns