HUNKER MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY ON ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES

A Hunker man was found not guilty of animal cruelty charges and guilty of three others. The Trib reports that 37-year-old Jason Beal was convicted of tampering with evidence, conspiracy and theft related to discarding the bodies of two dogs that were shot in nearby woods and covering up the shootings. Beal testified in his own defense that he shot one of the dogs as it was wounded in his driveway to put it out of its misery. Beal said he moved the dogs to not cover up the shooting but to shield his young children from seeing the dead animals. The dogs were discovered days later by hunters.