The Rapid City man accused of starving and abusing two dozen Alaskan malamute dogs found Wednesday was officially charged Monday when he made his initial appearance in court.
Chad L. Cooper, 35, is charged with one count of aggravated assault against a law-enforcement officer, one count of domestic violence simple assault and five counts of inhumane treatment of an animal.
Sarah Seljeskog, deputy state’s attorney for Pennington County, said Cooper was arrested on the domestic-violence charge, for which there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Seljeskog said 7th Circuit Magistrate Judge Shawn Pahlke granted the state’s request that Cooper’s bond be set at $250,000 cash or surety.
Authorities said Friday that Pennington County Sheriff’s deputies noticed the dogs Nov. 20 when they arrived at Cooper’s home to arrest him on the warrant.
They found several dead dogs and 24 dogs that were alive but in poor condition.
Cooper was not home at that time. Deputies returned Wednesday to seize the malnourished dogs.
At that time, Cooper arrived home and is accused of driving his vehicle toward the deputies. No one was injured.
Phil Olson, executive director of the Humane Society of the Black Hills, said Friday that the dogs were responding well to the change of environment.
Olson said he was unsure at that time whether the dogs would be put up for adoption.
Cooper remains in custody at the Pennington County Jail.
He faces up to 25 years in prison on the charge of aggravated assault against a law-enforcement officer. He faces up to one year in jail and up to $2,000 in fines on each of the other counts.
Source: Rapid City Journal
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