PARK RAPIDS - A Park Rapids woman has entered guilty pleas to two felony counts of letting two horses starve to death in Hubbard County last spring.
Minden Ann Crenshaw, 28, pleaded guilty to mistreating or abusing animals. The emaciated horses were found tied to a tree April 19. They were deceased and obviously the victims of neglect. Their ribs were protruding beneath their skin. One horse had broken free of its tether but dropped in place and died.
“No food or water was present,” the complaint stated.
In a plea agreement, Hubbard County Attorney Don Dearstyne agreed to dismiss a gross misdemeanor count of abusing animals.
Dearstyne said the felonies are “unranked offenses” by the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission. That means there are no sentencing recommendations.
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Attorneys have until Sept. 19 to suggest the severity level of the crimes, which will go toward sentencing. Each side will file a brief. The court will then rule on the severity level and set a sentencing date.
Each charge is punishable by a maximum of two years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine.
