Suspended sentence, fine imposed in CC cruelty case

A Charles City dog kennel owner has received a suspended jail sentence and a fine after pleading guilty to 10 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty in county general district court.

Ronald W. Hartman, 61, of 7901 Roxbury Road, had faced 52 animal cruelty counts, but a plea deal reached July 21 dropped most of the charges. Following terms of the plea deal, Judge Colleen Killilea imposed 10 years in jail, all suspended for the next 10 years, and a $10,000 fine with $5,000 suspended.

Hartman must pay close to $11,000 in veterinary bills incurred after authorities seized dogs from the defendant’s property and turned the animals over to state veterinary workers for care. Also, Hartman has been ordered to no longer board dogs on his property other than seven housedogs, county Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Tyler said.

The dogs involved were mostly hunting dogs including beagles and mixed breeds, the prosecutor said. Authorities, meanwhile, sort of stumbled on to the cruelty aspect.

“The county was investigating him for possibly buying and selling hunting dogs [without a county permit] when they came across the cruelty case,” Tyler said.

Authorities then executed a search warrant and discovered close to 100 dogs on the property. Some of the animals were infected with ticks and worms. Others appeared malnourished, Tyler said, adding that deer carcasses had been provided at times as dog food. Fifteen dogs in poorest condition were immediately seized, and state veterinary workers were brought in to examine the remaining animals.

“[Hartman] didn’t start out to hurt the dogs. He loves dogs,” Tyler said. “He just had too many dogs.

“He tried to treat them for worms,” the prosecutor added. “He didn’t set out to be cruel. He kind of let caring for the dogs get away from him.”