"Come to Iowa where you can torture animals to death for only $300!"

IOWA -- A Jesup man accused of torturing a dog last winter entered an Alford plea in court Friday.

Ty Hickman agreed to pay a $315 civil penalty.

By entering an Alford plea, Hickman does not admit guilt, but admits that sufficient evidence exists to prosecute him.

Ty Alyn Hickman

 

Hickman, A.J. Sellers and Kelsey Block were charged with animal torture and animal neglect after a dog’s body was found dead in a crate, covered in feces.

The dog was nicknamed Caleb by animal rights activists, but according to court documents, the dog’s name was actually Tank.

Hickman told the court last year he left the dog with Sellers and Block in January until they could find the dog a new home.

Sellers and Block both entered guilty pleas last fall. In all three cases, the animal torture charge was dismissed by court, and the judge deferred the sentence for the animal neglect charge.

(KWWL - Mar 7, 2014)

Earlier:

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