MASON CITY – On Thursday, October 6th, Mason City police went to 2224 21st Street SW, Mason City for a report of cruelty to animals.
After the investigation, police arrested Chad Mineart, a resident of the address, on one count of cruelty to animals in violation of Mason City municipal code 8-4A-15 subsection A. Chad Mineart was transported and booked into Cerro Gordo County jail.
Mason City municipal code 8-4A-15 subsection A states, “To be cruel to any animal by deprivation of necessary sustenance or protection, abandoning, beating, killing, tormenting, maiming, disfiguring, overworking, allowing the animal to fight other animals, or committing any other act or omission by which would reasonably cause pain, distress, suffering or death to the animal, or by procurement of any of the above acts or omissions, whether the acts or omissions herein contemplated be committed either maliciously, willfully or negligently.”
On Friday, October 7th, Chad Mineart appeared before the court from jail and pled not guilty. Council was appointed to Mineart at state expense, and a trial date has been set for November 7th, at 10:30 am. Chad Mineart has been released on his own recognizance following the appearance.
Iowa Court records show Chad Mineart was charged with cruelty to animals and dog at large in May 2008 in violation of Mason City Code. In that case Mineart pled guilty to the dog at large charge and received a $50 fine, $16 surcharge, and $30 bucks in court costs. The cruelty to animals charge was dismissed at by the court at trial.