Attorneys say a man accused of 34 counts of animal cruelty has changed his tune, and will plead guilty to the charges.
Authorities arrested West Yellowstone resident John Hessert back in January, after Police say he kept 33 sled dogs in an unsafe environment with no shelter, food or water.
The animals were put in foster care, and after passing medical evaluations last month, they were returned to Hessert's father in Maine.
Hessert is scheduled to enter a change of plea and be sentenced on the cruelty charges next week.
(from the archives)
A West Yellowstone man, who is facing 34 charges of animal cruelty, is fighting to have the sled dogs released to his father in Maine.
John T. Hessert, 24, was charged in February with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty and 33 misdemeanor counts. Hessert wants his dogs released to his father while the criminal case against him is pending; the animals were seized by authorities in January outside West Yellowstone.
Gallatin county officials say all the animals have been adopted by mushers and are in foster homes. Hessert's attorney argues the dogs should be kept at Hessert's father's house because the animals are not necessary as physical evidence to prove their previous conditions.
But prosecutors say the sled dogs need to remain in foster homes, where they're getting proper workouts and recovering from the alleged neglect, because some of the animals still have evidence on them like scars from frostbite.
Hessert has pled not guilty to the animal cruelty charges. A trial date has been set for August.
(from April 17, 2008)
The woman found guilty on 7 counts of animal cruelty to horses learned her fate Thursday in Gallatin County District Court.
Betty Brown will not spend any time behind bars, as part of a sentencing handed down by judge Holly Brown. Technically, 14 years of jail time was fully suspended.
Brown is also not allowed to own livestock during that time period, and has to officially forfeit the horses over to the county.
She's also ordered to pay $17,000 in restitution.
Brown was charged last spring after seven horses belonging to her were found severely malnourished in Gallatin Gateway. This is the third time Brown has been convicted of an animal cruelty offense.
(from the archives)
The man accused of neglecting more than 30 dogs near West Yellowstone say's he's not guilty.
John Hessert faces 34 counts of animal cruelty for reportedly abandoning the animals near West Yellowstone.
Police say Hessert allegedly kept 33 sled dogs in an unsafe environment with no shelter, food or water.
Authorities seized the animals from the property last month. Hessert pled not guilty to the charges.
The court ordered that he is not to be in possession of any dogs while this case is under investigation.
(From Feb. 19, 2008)
A man accused of neglecting more than 30 dogs near West Yellowstone won't go before the judge for almost another month.
According to court documents, John Hessert faces 34 counts of animal cruelty for allegedly abandoning the animals near West Yellowstone. Officers say a man called animal control to report that 33 sled dogs were being kept in an unsafe environment with no shelter, food or water.
After searching the area, authorities seized the dogs from the property. Court records say a veterinarian examined the animals and determined that all of the dogs were well below normal health and underfed.
Hessert is scheduled to appear before the judge March 17th.
