Richard Dean Holen was found not guilty on several counts of animal cruelty in connection with the deaths of over a dozen horses on Fort Peck Tribal lands north of Wolf Point.
The trial against Holen was held last week and the jury found him not guilty of one count of aggravated animal cruelty and five counts of cruelty to animals.
According to court documents, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office was informed of nine dead horses near Highway 13 last summer. A total of nine mares and five colts were found dead.
Sheriff Jason Frederick noted there was plenty of food, but no water available for the horses.
A veterinarian examined the horses and reported evidence suggested the horses died of dehydration.
The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Peck Fish and Game, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs were involved in the investigation.
The trial lasted one day.
- Holen charged with animal cruelty for horse deaths in Roosevelt County
- Investigation continues into the deaths of horses in Roosevelt County
(November 1, 2018) Richard Dean Holen has been charged in connection with the deaths of more than a dozen horses in Roosevelt County.
Holen is charged with one felony count of aggravated animal cruelty, and five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
According to court documents, the original owner of the horses told investigators that Holen agreed to take care of them.
Holen reportedly told the owner that he had plenty of pasture land and would take care of them. Holen then brought the horses to land that he leases.
According to court documents, a veterinarian that inspected the carcasses said: “The horses all appeared to be in various states of decay indicating mortality has been occurring over a period of time. The foals appeared to have died first and were in advance state of decay being mostly skeletal remains with few maggots and pupa. Given the life cycle of maggots, death may have occurred ranging from 5 to 20 days.”
The veterinarian went on to state that “evidence suggests dehydration to be the leading cause of death.”
Holen is scheduled to appear in District Court on November 14, according to a Facebook post from Fort Peck Tribal Councilman Jestin Dupree.
Click here to read the charging documents.
We will update you as we get more information.
