(updated)Omahan faces 27 criminal charges (include three counts of animal torture)

[Omaha Steve]

I posted about this last month. Here is the update.

This is the original story with photo. Emaciated dogs found chained: http://www.omaha.com/article/20100507/NEWS01/705079913

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100604/NEWS97/706049861

Published Friday June 4, 2010

By Elizabeth Ahlin
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

An Omaha man is facing 27 criminal charges in connection with the discovery of emaciated and sickly dogs in Mills County, Iowa, in May.

The charges filed against Michael H. Simet, 56, include three counts of animal torture, an aggravated misdemeanor; 10 counts of animal neglect, a serious misdemeanor; and 14 counts of animal neglect, a simple misdemeanor.

A woman answering the phone at Simet’s residence Thursday said he was not home. A call to Simet’s attorney was not immediately returned.

Under Iowa law, most simple misdemeanors have a possible fine of up to $625 and a possible sentence of 30 days in jail. Serious misdemeanors have a possible fine of up to $1,875 and a possible sentence of up to 1 year. Aggravated misdemeanors carry possible fines of up to $6,250 and up to two years in prison.

The charges came after a month long investigation into the treatment of 27 pit bulls that were found bound by thick metal chains to an axle buried in the ground. The dogs were discovered on a rural Pacific Junction property.

Two dogs were suffering from pneumonia and were euthanized quickly. The rest have been recovering at the Loess Hills Humane Society near Pacific Junction.

FULL story at link.