Hartwick pleads guilty to animal abuse

Tony Hartwick, 43, of rural Ironton, entered a plea of guilty to animal abuse, a Class D Felony and a plea of guilty to an unrelated charge of assault in the second degree, a Class C Felony in the Circuit Court of Iron County Thursday.

According to a press release from the prosecutor’s office, Hartwick was charged with the felony animal abuse in July after he allegedly dragged a horse behind an ATV.

Hartwick was charged with assault in the second degree in September after an incident not related to the animal abuse charge.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society of Missouri investigated the animal abuse case. The Iron County Sheriff’s Office investigated the assault case.  

Hartwick’s sentencing will be on Jan. 27.