A man charged with four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after four horses were injured while being driven to an auction yard in a two-horse trailer pleaded not guilty Friday, Aug 12 in Justice Court.
Robert Leo Sasse appeared on a summons and asked the judge to appoint a public defender to represent him. Judge Larry Herman set Sasse's bond at $4,000 and ordered him not to handle horses while the case is pending. Herman said Sasse could make the bond in time payments.
On Aug 11, Sasse failed to appear in court for arraignment and Judge Pedro Hernandez said he would issue an arrest warrant for him. Hernandez later issued a summons instead of a warrant, and Sasse appeared voluntarily on Aug 12.
Misdemeanor animal cruelty carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A trial was set for Jan. 10, 2006.
According to court records, Sasse was issued a citation on June 26 after a motorist flagged down a sheriff's deputy and pointed out a bleeding horse in a trailer on Interstate 90. The deputy followed the vehicle pulling the trailer to the Billings Livestock Commission in Lockwood.
At the auction yard, the deputy said, he found four injured horses inside the trailer. One of the horses had to be euthanized immediately, court records state. Case UpdatesRobert Leo Sasse, charged with four counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty after four horses were injured while being driven to an auction yard in a two-horse trailer, pleaded not guilty on Aug 12 in Justice Court.
Sasse appeared on a summons and asked the judge to appoint a public defender to represent him. Judge Larry Herman set Sasse's bond at $4,000 and ordered him not to handle horses while the case is pending. Herman said Sasse could make the bond in time payments. A trial was set for Jan. 10, 2006. | Source: Billings Gazette - Aug 14, 2005 Update posted on Aug 14, 2005 - 2:33PM |
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