ROCHESTER, Minn. — A Rochester man is accused of injuring a male quarter horse, leading to the animal’s death.

Thirty-nine-year-old Gregory Mark Soukup was charged Thursday with animal cruelty and damage to property.

Soukup is accused of inserting his hand and a lancing whip up the horse’s rectum at a farm where he sometimes helped out.

According to the complaint, Soukup arrived at the farm last Sunday afternoon while the owner was away. The complaint says the horse was in obvious distress when the owner returned home after being gone about 90 minutes. The horse had to be euthanized because of severe internal injuries.

Soukop’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 13. A phone number for Soukop could not be found.