BURNHAM — Law enforcement and animal welfare officials are investigating reports of animal cruelty against a Burnham woman who was convicted on nearly identical charges about 15 years ago and whose horses and other animals were seized by the state.

Maine’s Animal Welfare Program filed a complaint in March charging Alexis Ingraham, 40, with cruelty to animals. Humane agents received a report from a stable owner who had bought nine horses from Ingraham, each of which was thin and malnourished. Some had untreated infections and abscessed wounds.

“Many of the horses were malnourished, lice infested, having overgrown and cracked hooves,” an affidavit written by humane agent Doug Radziewicz reads. “One horse (needed) immediate medical attention due to lack of veterinary care.”

An arrest warrant was issued for Ingraham March 27. She voluntarily turned herself in April 14 and was released on personal recognizance with the condition that she not own “any domesticated animals or livestock.”

But on June 24, Waldo County sheriffs found three horses, two cows, three dogs and a cat on Ingraham’s property at 80 Pond Road. The horses were skinny and being kept in an outside enclosure with no shade while temperatures reached over 100 degrees, detective Kerry Libby wrote in a police affidavit.

“I asked (Ingraham) about the animals, and she told me that she does not own or care for any animals. She then said they belonged to her father and that she does not live at this residence,” the affidavit reads.

Ingraham was arrested and charged with violating conditions of release. Sheriff’s Sgt. Nick Oettinger said he could not comment on an open investigation, but confirmed Ingraham’s arrest for violation of conditions of release was related “in general” to the animal case.

Ingraham did not respond to a message sent last month via social media. Her attorney, Jeffrey Toothaker of Ellsworth, did not immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment.

Jim Britt, spokesman for the state Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, which includes the Animal Welfare Program, said he could not comment on the case. Megan Duval of the Waldo District Attorney’s Office said she cannot provide information in an open investigation.

This is not the first time Ingraham has been charged with cruelty to animals. She and her husband, Brett Ingraham, 49, were convicted in 2011 on six counts of animal cruelty after mistreating horses, cows, goats and dogs at Fair Play Farm in Clinton, which they ran together. Brett Ingraham was taken to jail, but Alexis was pregnant at the time and was not incarcerated.

The animals in that case were in similar condition to those sheriff’s deputies found in June. About a dozen horses at that time were found “diseased, dehydrated and malnourished” on the farm, authorities said, and were subsequently seized by the state.

Horse advocates have been filing complaints with law enforcement and state officials for years that Ingraham continued keeping and mistreating horses at her Burnham property.

Sidney Gebo, a Newport horse owner, has been following the case and calling authorities since 2022. Gebo said the state removed a number of dogs and cats from Ingraham’s property this past spring and ordered her not to own any other livestock, according to Radziewicz’s affidavit.

Gebo, 23, has been around horses for years and has spread the word about the case to people in the horse community throughout Maine and beyond. They have since been emailing authorities and news organizations about it, she said. The Morning Sentinel has received multiple emails about the case.

“A lot of people just want these animals taken care of, and responsibly taken care of,” Gebo said. “The horse community will rally all over the state. I have talked to people out of state.”

Social media posts and videos about the Ingrahams’ alleged mistreatment of animals have been shared across the country and cumulatively received thousands of likes. Libby, the Waldo County Sheriff’s detective, noted in his affidavit that “many concerned citizens had been calling and emailing” about the animals.

Ingraham filed a motion to amend her bail conditions in May, arguing the stipulation that she not own any animals prevented her from making a living transporting and selling horses and “implies guilt before a conviction.” The motion was denied.

Ingraham posted $500 bail roughly a day after being arrested last month and was released from the Waldo County Correctional Facility. A clerk at Waldo County Unified Court said Ingraham is scheduled to appear for a dispositional conference hearing there Aug. 26.