Two people accused of assaulting Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department horses during protests sparked by federal immigration raids have been charged with animal cruelty and other charges, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Dana Whitson, 66, of Oro Valley, Arizona, was charged with one felony count each of assault upon a peace officer, resisting arrest and animal cruelty for allegedly pushing an LASD horse several times and then hitting the animal’s muzzle and pulling on its rein June 13, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Whitson could face up to six years and four months in prison if convicted.

Iran Castro, 29, of El Monte, was charged with two felony counts each of animal cruelty and assault upon a peace officer, along with one felony count of resisting arrest.

Authorities allege that Castro began pulling on the bridle of one horse and then grabbed the reins of another horse as sheriff’s mounted deputies moved toward a crowd at the intersection of Temple and Los Angeles streets after a dispersal order was given, and that she had been free on her own recognizance in another felony case at the time.

Castro could face up to 10 years and four months in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Also among the more than 40 people who have been charged with crimes stemming from last month’s immigration protests are:

Patrick Munoz, 38, of Whittier, who allegedly jabbed a flagpole at an officer, causing injury, as police responded June 11 to a protest outside a hotel in the 7300 block of Greenleaf Avenue in Whittier, where protesters believed immigration agents were staying. Munoz is charged with one felony count each of assault upon a peace officer and resisting arrest, and one misdemeanor count of rioting, and faces
up to nine years and two months in prison if convicted as charged.

Lucia Aguilar Cole and Antonia Aguilar, both 27, of Pasadena, who are each charged with one felony count of using force or violence to deter or prevent an officer from performing a duty imposed by law and one misdemeanor count of rioting. Prosecutors allege the two sisters were on Alameda Avenue near the 101 Freeway when officers told a group of protesters to leave the area June 8. Aguilar Cole is accused of throwing a plastic water bottle at an officer, and her sister allegedly interfered and tried to prevent officers from arresting her sister, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The two could each face up to three years and six months in prison if convicted as charged.

Robert McGrath, 21, of Lakewood, who is charged with one felony count of vandalism for allegedly spray-painting an expletive on the side of the federal Veterans Affairs building in downtown Los Angeles June 13. If convicted of the charge, he could face up to three years in prison.

Robert Amaya, 48, of Los Angeles, who is charged with a felony count of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly approaching an 11-year-old girl whose family was leaving the protests in downtown Los Angeles June 10 and making a stabbing motion at her, according to the District Attorney’s Office. The girl managed to jump away and was not injured, authorities said. Amaya could face up to 13 years behind bars if convicted of the charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

A 17-year-old who is charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, assault upon on peace officer and vandalism and two misdemeanor counts of rioting.

The large-scale protests may have ended for now, but our work has not,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement announcing the charges.

“We are continuing to review evidence, identify suspects and file charges where the law has been broken. I want to thank the team of investigators and prosecutors for their tireless efforts to ensure that those who committed criminal acts under the guise of protest are held accountable,” Hochman said.