Dillon G. Schutz, 23, of rural Lodi, pleaded no contest Monday in Columbia County Circuit Court to felony mistreatment of animals — causing death.
Schutz could face up to 1-1/2 years in prison on the charge on an initial sentence. A sentencing date has not been set pending an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections into Schutz’s past.
Judge W. Andrew Voigt said Schutz, by pleading to the charge, admits that prosecutors could prove that he intentionally treated the rabbit in a cruel manner and that the treatment resulted in the rabbit’s death.
Lodi police say they investigated a report in June 2013 of the death by torture of a pet rabbit that Schutz was taking care of for a friend over the weekend of June 21 to June 23, 2013.
Police said they were told Schutz tortured the rabbit and took video during the torture, and that he had shown people the video while at a party.
Schutz told police he immediately began tormenting the rabbit after it was dropped off into his care for the weekend by the rabbit’s owner. He said he did not like the rabbit and “wanted to mess with it. To get it all riled up and stuff.”
Schutz said he took three videos of the torture. Police said the videos included many acts of violence to the rabbit. The incidents ended with Schutz putting the rabbit into plastic bags and into a freezer.
When police asked Schutz if he felt guilt for what he did to the rabbit, Schutz replied, “No, I actually enjoyed it for some reason,” and said that every time the rabbit [cried out] or grunted, he wanted to torture it more, according to the complaint.
Schutz said he was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the torture, the complaint stated.
(WISC News - Dec 1, 2014)
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