Your DA's at work - in one year, Caleb's suffering and death will be as if it had never happened

IOWA -- Two people arrested in connection with the death of a dog are seeking deferred judgments.

A.J. Sellers, 23, and Kelsey Block, 19, both of Jesup, have filed written guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges of animal neglect. If the court agrees with the deals, the charges will come off their records when Sellers and Block complete probation.

[In other states this is called judicial diversion. Basically says this is your one "get out of jail free" card. Be a good boy or girl for just one year and then the charge will be wiped clean from your record. As though it had never happened.

As though Caleb had not suffered for months, wagging his tail whenever one of these monsters would walk by, desperately believing they would give him something to eat - or maybe some love.

As though Caleb had not cried out for food, wondering why they were so cruel to him.

As though Caleb had no laid there getting weaker and weaker until finally dying.

As though they had not conspired to let Caleb starve to death and then worked together to dump his body, still in his horrid putrid feces-filled crate, like garbage and then go about their merry way without giving poor Caleb another thought.

I hope these three monsters rot in hell.]

Block’s attorney submitted her plea Friday. Sellers pleaded a week earlier.

A third person charged in the case, Ty Hickman, 24, is scheduled to go to trial.

Road workers found a pet carrier with the remains of a starved dog inside in February in rural Black Hawk County.

During an investigation, Sellers told officers the dog -- named Tank but dubbed Caleb by animal rights advocates -- belonged to Hickman. Hickman told authorities he left the dog with Sellers and Block.

Under the plea deals with Sellers and Block, the state will dismiss a charge of animal torture, an aggravated misdemeanor. The two will pay a civil penalty and be placed on unsupervised probation for a year.

If the judge does not approve the plea agreements, Sellers and Block can withdraw their guilty pleas. Sentencing is scheduled later this month.

(WCF Courier - Nov 1, 2013)

Earlier:

• Guilty plea for one of three accused in dog abuse case
• Waterloo animal control pursuing animal cruelty case
• Man Charged With Animal Torture
• Two Additional Arrests in horrific abuse case in Iowa