FEBRUARY 27, 2024:
A man who beat a dog to death at a Mitchell residence last year was sentenced to 90 days in jail on Tuesday (Feb. 27, 2024).
25-year old Aaron Hacecky pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to an animal, which is a Class 6 felony, last year. In exchange for the guilty plea, drug charges were dropped.
On July 30th, officers were dispatched to a report of a dog being beaten in the backyard of a Mitchell residence. Upon arrival, they witnessed Hacecky punching a black Lab in the head. The dog was chained up, and its mouth, back legs and front legs were duct taped. The dog was struggling to breathe. Officers were able to separate Hacecky from the dog, which was owned by Hacecky’s girlfriend and was named Buddy. They took Buddy to a vet clinic, where he died.
Prosecutor Alicia Odland argued for penitentiary time or a lengthy jail sentence for Hacecky, citing his lack of remorse and the brutality of the crime.
Defense attorney Sandy Steffen noted Hacecky’s lack of a prior criminal record. She also said that Hacecky had worked as a therapist at Aurora Plains Academy where he had been assaulted and suffered a head injury prior to the incident. Steffen noted that Hacecky had sought treatment following the crime and has not failed a drug test.
In sentencing Hacecky, Judge Chris Giles said the incident was not a momentary loss of temper, citing the time it took to duct tape Buddy’s legs and mouth and the fact the Hacecky admitted to taking breaks in between bouts of beating the dog. In addition to the jail time, Hacecky was sentenced to two years of probation and was ordered to not own or care for any pets.
(Story courtesy of news partner KMIT.)
DECEMBER 20, 2023:
A man who beat a dog to death at a Mitchell residence earlier this year has pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals.
25-year old Aaron Hacecky faces up to two years in prison on the Class 6 felony charge. In exchange for the guilty plea, drug charges were dropped.
On July 30, 2023, Mitchell police officers were dispatched to a report of a dog being beaten in the backyard of a Mitchell residence. Upon arrival, they witnessed Hacecky punching a black lab in the head. The officers were able to separate Hacecky from the dog and noticed that the dog’s mouth had been duct taped shut and its back and front legs had been duct taped together. The dog was struggling to breathe and was taken to a veterinary clinic where it died from the abuse. Hacecky admitted to tying up the dog and punching it in the head and ribs multiple times.
A pre-sentence report was ordered. Sentencing was set for February 13, 2024.
(Story courtesy of news partner KMIT.)
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