BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A West Boca Raton man is facing multiple animal cruelty charges after an investigation by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. PBSO issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com late Friday afternoon:
On October 28, 2025, detectives received a complaint that several horses on a property in the 12200 block of 200th StreetSouth, unincorporated Boca Raton, appeared to be severely underweight or injured.
On October 29, 2025, detectives executed search warrants and located ten horses in poor condition, several of which were severely malnourished or injured. Stalls were discovered in deplorable, unsanitary conditions. Eight of the ten horses were secured and transported to Animal Care and Control for emergency veterinary care; two horses could not be secured.
Equine veterinarians later confirmed that all eight seized horses suffered from malnutrition, poor body condition, untreated injuries, rain rot, overgrown hooves, dehydration, dental disease, and in one case, a large, maggot-infested wound requiring surgery. These findings were consistent with long-term neglect.
Based on the evidence, detectives established probable cause to charge James Marinakis with five counts of Unlawful Abandonment or Confinement of an Animal (F.S.S. 828.13(2)(a)) and three counts of Aggravated Animal Cruelty (F.S.S. 828.12(2)).
On November 21, 2025, Marinakis was arrested and charged with eight counts of animal cruelty and neglect. Case cleared by arrest.
