Dennis H. Hiatt, 48, was charged in a 14-count warrant alleging misdemeanor animal abuse. Bond was set at $14,000 cash or surety in an arrest warrant issued Feb. 2 by Associate Circuit Judge John B. Berkemeyer. “Under the current set of circumstances, Missouri Statute only provides for the filing of a misdemeanor,” noted a press release issued by the  office of Gasconade County Prosecutor Ada Brehe-Krueger. According to her office, a felony can only be filed against a person if they have a prior conviction for animal abuse.

The charges alleged in the complaint are class A misdemeanors  — the most severe of misdemeanor charges.

According to Brehe-Krueger, “on January 26, 2010, members of the Gasconade County’s Sheriff’s Department, as well as members of the Humane Society of Missouri, responded to a property in the Rosebud, Missouri, area after receiving a complaint of dead horses on the property. Upon arrival, numerous horses were found dead and thirteen more were found in very poor physical condition. A search warrant was subsequently issued by Associate Circuit Court Judge John Berkemeyer whereby the live horses and mules were impounded by the Missouri Humane Society. After reviewing all evidence, the prosecuting attorney determined there was sufficient evidence to support the charge.”

Hiatt faces a “disposition hearing” at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, to determine the fate of the 13 equine seized from his rented pasture. They are currently being cared for at the Humane Society’s Longmeadow Rescue Ranch near Union. Officials with the Humane Society said last week they will oppose any proposal to return the seriously malnourished animals to Hiatt. The only source of fresh water on the site was a pond  and a dead horse was floating in it, according to investigators from the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri Humane Society.

A veterinarian said a likely cause of the death of some of the 12 animals found at the 40-acre site was lack of water during the extended cold-spell in late December and early January as the pond froze over. Surviving equine were also undernourished, he noted.

“Under the current set of circumstances, Missouri Statute only provides for the filing of a misdemeanor,” noted Brehe-Krueger’s release. “The filing of a criminal charge is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of the charge must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilty. A hearing is scheduled for February 10, 2010, to determine the immediate disposition of said animals.”

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