Horses neglected - Fargo, ND

Friday, Jun 30, 2006

County: Cass

Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Nicholas Paul Bergquist

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A man has pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals stemming from a July visit by sheriff's deputies to check on an ailing horse.

Nicholas Paul Bergquist, 59, of West Fargo, said he gave the mare medication that allowed her to get back on her feet.

He denies mistreating his horses.

"It's just bogus as far as I'm concerned," he said of the charge.

Bergquist has pleaded not guilty in Cass County to a separate charge of keeping animals in an unhealthy condition. That charge is an infraction carrying a $50 fine.

He also is charged in Clay County, Minn. with five gross misdemeanor charges and two misdemeanor charges stemming from complaints about horses he kept in rural Moorhead.

His next appearance in Clay County is set for Sept. 21.

Case Updates

A rural West Fargo man facing charges in Cass and Clay counties for mistreating his horses pleaded guilty to a citation and a misdemeanor Tuesday in Cass County District Court. Nicholas Paul Bergquist, 1107 7th St. W., entered an Alford plea today, in which he did not admit responsibility to the charges acknowledged evidence might be enough to convict him at trial. The 59-year-old entered the Alford plea to a Class B misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals and a citation for keeping animals in an unhealthy or sanitary manner. East Central District Court Judge Wade Webb gave Bergquist to one-year deferred sentence and ordered him to pay $500 in fines. Bergquist still faces seven charges in Clay County stemming from two com-plaints about horses he kept in rural Moorhead. He is scheduled to appear on those charges Jan. 2.

Source: In-Forum - Dec 24, 2006 Update posted on Dec 27, 2006 - 5:41PM

References

• Grandforks.Com - Aug 17, 2006

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