By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 23:46 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 00:55 EST, 24 August 2012 . A Florida man was arrested this week after being accused of stealing a woman’s horse and slapping paint over its white markings in a ruse meant to cover his tracks and fool the animal's owner. Bullet the horse found itself in the middle of a heated custody battle between Raphine Pierce, of Lake Helen, Florida, and Thomas Pugliese,, 46, who ended up behind bars over allegations of equine theft. Bullet was given to Pierce in July by Pugliese’s mother, who said she could not longer care for the animal, Orlando Sentinel reported. Custody battle: Thomas Pugliese, right, was arrested for allegedly stealing a horse that his own mother gave Raphine Pierce, left, and dying its markings to cover up the theft . However, about 10 days later, the . horse vanished from Pierce’s pasture. The woman reported the animal . missing and told police that she suspected that Pugliese’s daughter was . behind it. On August 13, . weeks after filing her report, Pierce said she spotted Bullet on . Pugliese’s property. The only problem was that the white, diamond-shaped . marking on the critter’s forehead was gone. According to Pierce, the tell-tale . sign had been dyed brown to match the rest of Bullet’s body, along with . other characteristic markings. Horesplay: Investigators said Pugliese's teen daughter (pictured) rode off on Bullet into the brush while police were waiting for a warrant to search their property . When Lake Helen police approached . Pugliese about the horse and his daughter's suspected involvement in his disappearance, the man blocked his . driveway with a truck and claimed that the horse seen prancing on his property was not . Bullet, according to a police report. Pugliese refused to let officers onto his land, so they sought a search warrant. While . Owen was waiting for the warrant to arrive, Pierce, who was also on the . scene, said she saw Pugliese’s daughter flee on the horse into the . woods. Mystery: Pugliese's daughter was eventually found after fleeing into the woods with the horse, but Bullet is still missing . Authorities said they . later learned that Pugliese told his daughter to ride off and hide the . animal, according to a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office report. After . an hour, Owen became concerned that the teenager may have gotten lost . in the dense brush, but her father would not report her as missing. The . girl was eventually found, but without Bullet. According to police, it is unclear who . legally owns Bullet. Pugliese could not produce any documents proving . that he is Bullet’s owner, while Pierce is in possession of the horse’s . medical records and registration information, Officer Scott Owen said. Equine ruse: Raphine Pierce claimed that Pugliese stole Bullet from her pasture and painted the white star on its forehead and other markings brown to match the rest of the animal . Police said Pugliese told them: ‘You aren’t going to get that horse back even if it means I have to take the ride to Daytona,’ referring to the Volusia County Jail. He was arrested and charged with felony grand theft of a farm animal, tampering with evidence and child neglect without great harm.
Thomas Pugliese, 46, was charged with grant theft of farm animal .
Raphine Pierce said Pugliese's mother gave her Bullet the horse in July .
Horse vanished from Pierce's pasture days later and re-emerged on Pugliese's property, but without his white markings .
Pugliese's teenage daughter rode on Bullet into the woods when police came by to conduct a search .
By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 23:46 EST, 23 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 00:55 EST, 24 August 2012 . A Florida man was arrested this week after being accused of stealing a woman’s horse and slapping paint over its white markings in a ruse meant to cover his tracks and fool the animal's owner. Bullet the horse found itself in the middle of a heated custody battle between Raphine Pierce, of Lake Helen, Florida, and Thomas Pugliese,, 46, who ended up behind bars over allegations of equine theft. Bullet was given to Pierce in July by Pugliese’s mother, who said she could not longer care for the animal, Orlando Sentinel reported. Custody battle: Thomas Pugliese, right, was arrested for allegedly stealing a horse that his own mother gave Raphine Pierce, left, and dying its markings to cover up the theft . However, about 10 days later, the . horse vanished from Pierce’s pasture. The woman reported the animal . missing and told police that she suspected that Pugliese’s daughter was . behind it. On August 13, . weeks after filing her report, Pierce said she spotted Bullet on . Pugliese’s property. The only problem was that the white, diamond-shaped . marking on the critter’s forehead was gone. According to Pierce, the tell-tale . sign had been dyed brown to match the rest of Bullet’s body, along with . other characteristic markings. Horesplay: Investigators said Pugliese's teen daughter (pictured) rode off on Bullet into the brush while police were waiting for a warrant to search their property . When Lake Helen police approached . Pugliese about the horse and his daughter's suspected involvement in his disappearance, the man blocked his . driveway with a truck and claimed that the horse seen prancing on his property was not . Bullet, according to a police report. Pugliese refused to let officers onto his land, so they sought a search warrant. While . Owen was waiting for the warrant to arrive, Pierce, who was also on the . scene, said she saw Pugliese’s daughter flee on the horse into the . woods. Mystery: Pugliese's daughter was eventually found after fleeing into the woods with the horse, but Bullet is still missing . Authorities said they . later learned that Pugliese told his daughter to ride off and hide the . animal, according to a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office report. After . an hour, Owen became concerned that the teenager may have gotten lost . in the dense brush, but her father would not report her as missing. The . girl was eventually found, but without Bullet. According to police, it is unclear who . legally owns Bullet. Pugliese could not produce any documents proving . that he is Bullet’s owner, while Pierce is in possession of the horse’s . medical records and registration information, Officer Scott Owen said. Equine ruse: Raphine Pierce claimed that Pugliese stole Bullet from her pasture and painted the white star on its forehead and other markings brown to match the rest of the animal . Police said Pugliese told them: ‘You aren’t going to get that horse back even if it means I have to take the ride to Daytona,’ referring to the Volusia County Jail. He was arrested and charged with felony grand theft of a farm animal, tampering with evidence and child neglect without great harm.
Pierce in July by Pugliese’s mother, who said she stealing a horse that his own mother gave Raphine the theft . However, about 10 days later, the . horse vanished from Pierce’s pasture. The woman Pugliese’s property. The only problem was that said Pugliese's teen daughter (pictured) rode off on Bullet into the brush while police were fleeing into the woods with the horse, but Bullet Pugliese stole Bullet from her pasture and with felony grand theft of a farm animal,