CHATFIELD, Minn. — A Chatfield man will avoid felony charges in a case of animal neglect and cruelty.
Jeremiah Smaglik, 42, entered written guilty pleas Monday, Sept. 9, in Fillmore County District Court to one count each of gross misdemeanor animal torture and gross misdemeanor animal cruelty. As part of the plea, felony counts of animal torture and of animal cruelty and four other misdemeanor charges were dismissed.
beneath the plea, prosecutors might ask smaglik serve 20 days in jail — keeping off the up to four years in jail that the criminal prices could potentially deliver. inside the written plea, smaglik notes he ought to ask the courtroom for less jail time.
on tuesday, district court decide matthew j. opat set a sentencing hearing for oct. 21.
that hearing falls almost a 12 months after the fillmore county sheriff’s workplace replied to a complaint that as a minimum four horses had been being kept in a small pen without a roof or shelter at smaglik’s rural chatfield assets.
a lieutenant from the sheriff’s workplace who answered to the call determined 4 horses in the pen that had been skinny. one had a blanket on and turned into limping, in line with the officer’s report. smaglik allegedly told the officer the horses had been rescues and were thin from preceding poor treatment.
in march, sheriff’s officials responding to any other criticism walked around the belongings where they located 8 horses that were emaciated with their ribs and spines displaying and two dead horses on the garden.
smaglik then agreed to show over the horses to the minnesota animal humane society, court files show. the horses have been taken to anoka equine veterinary services. all of the horses had lice, infections, worms and different parasites, staff there suggested to investigators. one horse, expected about two decades old, become euthanized there. a necropsy achieved at the chatfield veterinary health facility located the horses died due to malnutrition and/or starvation.
seven horses have new homes, said barbara colombo, president of the minnesota horse welfare coalition.
colombo become on web page whilst the horses had been removed from the assets.
“they had been saved in horrible, inhumane conditions,” she said. “it become shameful.”
she said for horses to die of starvation calls for severe, lengthy-term overlook.
she stated the thorough research documenting situations will assist raise public consciousness of horse overlook and the need to make sure those who undertake horses have the monetary approach and knowledge to take care of the animals.
smaglik purchased 5 of the horses from ryon’s rescue in cannon falls among july and september ultimate 12 months, in keeping with investigators. officers at ryon’s told investigators that the 5 horses had been healthy and of true weight at the time of sale.
minnesota man pleads responsible to horse deaths
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