Pair Charged with Abusing Reptiles, Rodents

MURRIETA - The operators of a Lake Elsinore business that specialized in the captive breeding of reptiles and rodents for wholesale distribution are each facing more than 100 animal cruelty charges for allegedly abusing and killing the creatures, prosecutors announced today.

Mitchell Steven Behm, 54, of Coto de Caza, and David Delgado, 28, of Rialto were arrested and charged Friday in connection with acts of alleged cruelty against thousands of animals that were caged at Global Captive Breeders on Third Street.

Behm is free on $50,000 bail; Delgado is being held in lieu of the same amount at t...