Jaci Rae Jackson, a former Southern Arkansas University student and a rodeo team member, has pleaded guilty to the theft of five horses and apparatus from the university's rodeo team stables, November 2011. If convicted, she could face a maximum of 40 years in prison.
She appeared before a Columbia County Court judge and her next court date is scheduled on July 18.
Police could only rescue four horses out of the five abducted by the student. The remaining horse was killed and dismembered.
She will not be punished until she testifies in pending cases in Oklahoma, where the horses were found.
Earlier, Jackson was charged with four counts of theft of property over $5,000 and two counts for theft of property over $25,000. But, Deputy Prosecutor, David Butler, altered the charges.
William Webster "Billy" Hamilton and George Berrish III, the two men accused of helping Jackson, also pleaded guilty and were charged with six counts of theft of property.
All three of them, Jackson, Hamilton and Berrish are being punished for transporting stolen goods into the state.
Later Butler modified Hamilton's charges as he was found to be a habitual offender. Circuit Judge Larry Chandler gave him 20 years of jail time in the first four counts, and five years each for the other two charges in the Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC), a total of 30 years. Meanwhile, Berrish was given 10 years in ADC.
Jackson's mother, Wendi Cox, was also sentenced to 60 years in jail by the jury for concealing the animals on her property in Oklahoma.
At Cox's hearing, Hamilton confessed that Jackson planned the thefts but did not actually steal the horses. He said that Cox wanted to sell the horses and tools and use that money to purchase another horse for Jackson.
