KSBY Channel 6

Legal troubles for Slick Gardner

By: Matt Cota

Buellton rancher Slick Gardner faces the possibility of 10 years on prison for allegedly abusing wild mustangs he is accused of stealing, and now he has to find another lawyer.

Santa Barbara criminal defense attorney Steve Balash has backed out of the job. Balash tells Action News the case against Gardner is incredibly complex, saying that it's as big as any death penalty case he's ever tried, and that he was also working for free.

As Gardner looks for another lawyer, the case will be likely be delayed by at least six months. On Wednesday, a judge denied Gardner's request for a public defender, and now he has two weeks to find one willing to take his case. However, if no one accepts, the county will be required to pay for a public defender. So far, Santa Barbara County has racked up costs of $200,000 investigating and seizing the wild horses kept on Gardner's Buellton ranch.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mag Nicola is also now being lobbied by the world's largest animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA has sent a letter to Nicola, demanding he push for jail time and require Gardner to undergo a thorough psychological evaluation if he is convicted. Currently, there are several hundred horses at Gardner's ranch. PETA has asked the county to seize them as well and any other animals kept there, and say they want to keep Gardner from owning any animals in the future.

Slick Gardner faces a number of felony charges, including animal cruelty and theft of nearly 250 wild horses.