Bella Gunnabe Gifted • photo by WaltenberryAt a felony readiness conference on Tuesday, March 24, reining trainer Mark Arballo pleaded guilty to one felony animal cruelty charge relating to the death of Bella Gunnabe Gifted in September 2013.
Arballo had originally entered a not-guilty plea in the San Diego Superior Court, South County Division, on Oct. 2, 2014. A felony jury trial was on the docket for Monday, May 18. Following the felony readiness conference, the San Diego County District Attorney's Office confirmed the felony jury trial had been vacated and that a sentencing hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 21 at 1:30 p.m.