Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A Fort Pierre man will spend the Fourth of July holiday during each of the next three years in jail for mistreating a rodeo barrel racing horse during last year’s Fourth of July celebration.
Magistrate Judge Mark Smith Wednesday afternoon ordered Flint Dahl, 23, to report to the Hughes County Jail at 9 a.m. the Fourth of July this year, 2011 and 2012 to serve five days each time. “You will remember why you are there.” Smith told Dahl.
Dahl had pleaded guilty to inhumane treatment of an animal. That is a misdemeanor. A felony count of grand theft was dropped as part of a plea bargain.
Dahl admitted to taking Dually, a rodeo barrel racing horse owned by Wendy Halweg, from the Stanley County Fairgrounds in the early morning hours of July 5th last year. Prosecutors say Dahl incorrectly tied up the horse twice, resulting in the horse thrashing about and severely injuring itself. Officials say Dahl then continued to ride the horse, knowing that it was injured.
Dahl told the judge that he was told that Dually belonged to Seth Norman and that he didn’t realize the horse was injured.
One of Dahl’s attorneys, Patrick Duffy of Rapid City, said Dahl “was sucked into” the incident by others. Duffy also blamed the media for inciting “a textbook example of a mob.”
But Stanley County State’s Attorney Tom P. Maher says Dahl tried to excuse his behavior because he was drunk. “A lot of people you see have alcohol issues, but many of them don’t do this,” he said. “He took the horse, knowing it was injured and rode it again and again.”
Halweg, who was in the courtroom, did not speak, but had a letter from her read in court. She told Dahl that his actions had taken away the rodeo dreams of her and the horse.
“The part I don’t understand is why you would abuse an innocent animal” she wrote. “How could you destroy in just a few hours what had taken Dually and I years to build.”
The sentence was part of a larger plea bargain in four different cases involving Dahl. He also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, reckless driving and ingestion of a toxic substance, marijuana, in the three other cases. Smith ordered fines and court costs for those cases, but all jail time was suspended. Dahl had already served about 60 days in jail and alcohol treatment after being arrested on a parole violation.
As part of the Dually case, Smith also put Dahl on three years probation and said all of the jail time could restored if he violates parole. Dahl also has agreed to pay $25,000 in restitution to Halweg for Dually’s injuries.
Halweg said the payment will help with some bills, but that Dually will not compete again and she is not competing in rodeo this year. Halweg said in exchange for the money, she has agreed not to file a civil lawsuit against Dahl.
http://www.todayskccr.com/index.asp?folderID=22
Categories: News About Dually,
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Categories: News About Dually,
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Bond has been set at $5,000 for a Fort Pierre man who promised a judge that he would behave if he got out of jail.
Flint David Dahl, 22, is expected to be released today from the Hughes County Jail after the cash bond is posted. His father handed defense attorney Bernie Duffy the money after bond was set by Judge Mark Smith during a Wednesday afternoon hearing in the Stanley County Courthouse.
Dahl faces a variety of charges in the four cases such as ingesting, leaving the scene of an accident and threatening a law enforcement officer. The other case is felony grand theft and misdemeanor inhumane treatment of an animal involving the theft of Dually, a rodeo barrel racing horse, on July 5 from the Stanley County Fairgrounds. The horse, owned by Wendy Halweg, suffered multiple injuries in the incident.
The $5,000 cash bond is being used for that case while the rest of the offenses require only a personal recognizance.
Dahl has been in jail since November after being arrested in a fourth separate case and having his bond revoked. Dahl also has just returned from more than a month of inpatient substance abuse treatment at the Human Services Center in Yankton.
Both Duffy and Stanley County State’s Attorney Tom Maher, Jr. told Smith they agreed that Dahl could be released. Dahl also wrote a letter to Smith, Duffy and Maher promising that he would change his behavior.
Duffy told Smith that he had a good “man to man” visit with Dahl. “I think he is on the mend,” Duffy told the judge. “I would be completely flabbergasted if he let you down.”
While out of jail, Duffy will work at a ranch about 38 miles from Fort Pierre and will continue to undergo outpatient treatment and counseling. Smith also issued several other conditions for bond such as 24/7 sobriety tests, not entering bars and drinking establishments and allowing law enforcement to test him and search his property at any time.
Smith told Dahl he was not planning to give him bond, but the letter changed his mind. Holding up the letter, Smith said to Dahl: “Hopefully you are not lying to me.”
A status hearing on all four cases is set for 2 p.m. Feb. 10.
Categories: News About Dually,
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Hello to all of you diligent and loyal supporters of Wendy and Dually. As I have said in many of my messages we must remain patient and steadfast just as Wendy and Dually are doing.
Wendy has been currently working on attainining a treadmill for Dually to do his rehabilitation on rather than the icy South Dakota terrain. After attaining the new equipment, Wendy had to have her barn rewired to be able to handle the heavy electrical load. So that progress is ongoing.
Dually is slowly recovering, Wendy finally has his right hind leg weaned from wrapping, the skin is almost healed but the scars will remain, hopefully the skin will remain attached and will not re open but only time will tell. The ultrasound showed again that the tendons are making progress but it is a VERY slow process.
Thank you for your continued support and prayers, Wendy said, "we all have so much going on in our lives yet it amazes me the people who are still watching and care, I can't even put into words how appreciative I am for the support that everyone has given, thanks again!!"
Merry Merry Christmas and remember Christ is the reason for the season.
Peace
Kara
Wendy wanted me to share this quote.
"Be kinder than necessary; for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
Categories: Comments and Stories, News About Dually,
Friday, October 23, 2009
Good Thursday to each and every one of you. I want to share an update from Wendy, and I wanted to leave it untouched, from her. She is a wonderful person and her heart felt note is something I want you all to hear from her. Good luck this weekend and travel safe!
Kara
Wow sometimes days really try me others not so bad.....
Dually is at home....he is being hand led and trotted some....depending on swelling....he has a open wound on the back right leg that is still being bandaged.....but healing with no scar tissue...we have our good and bad days some we have swelling others we just want to get out and move.....he's loves his treats it's kinda like a bed time snack......Bless 13 year old Torrie Michels and family for letting me use Elly at Circuit Finals and again at SDRA finals...also Bless 11year old Shelby and the Vinson family for letting me use TJ at the central states fair in Rapid City. It has also made Duallys day to have Elly around......he loves to be lead with her and also have someone to eat next too.....and keep his spirit up....she was his traveling partner in his younger days.....I can't say enough THANK YOU's right now to all the wonderful people that have helped and supported us.....you have no idea what that means to me.....It's amazing how many good people step up in a bad situation....Thanks too everyone for your prays....the power of prayer is a wonderful thing! Thanks Again to everyone for your continued support of Dually and Me.....
"To be the best that you can be you must strive to surpass yourself, not the competition."
Categories: Comments and Stories, News About Dually,
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Arrest warrant issued in Dually horse-theft case
By David Montgomery
Capital Journal staff
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 01:50:17 pm CDT
FORT PIERRE — An arrest warrant has been issued in the case of a rodeo horse which was recovered injured after disappearing from his pen after the Fort Pierre Fourth of July Rodeo.
Flint David Dahl, of Fort Pierre, is charged with grand theft, a felony, and inhumane treatment of an animal, a misdemeanor.
Stanley County Sheriff Brad Rathbun said Dahl is planning on turning himself in this evening.
Categories: News About Dually,
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009
Updated at 2 p.m.
Fort Pierre man to be charged in Dually case
A Fort Pierre man will be charged in the theft of Dually, a barrel racing rodeo horse, taken from the Stanley County Fairgrounds early on the morning of July 5.
Flint David Dahl, 22, is being charged with two alternate counts of grand theft, which are class four felonies, and inhumane treatment of an animal, which is a misdemeanor.
Magistrate Judge Mark Smith signed a warrant for Dahl’s arrest this morning and a $5,000 cash bond was set. As of late this morning, Dahl had not yet been arrested. When that happens, there is no word on when his first court appearance may be.
Stanley County State’s Attorney Tom P. Maher has filed a 16-page affidavit, including four pages of photo exhibits, that establishes probable cause for Dahl’s arrest in the theft of the horse, owned by rodeo participant Wendy Halwig of Mitchell.
Maher says it is possible that other people could also be charged.
The case has generated much rumor, innuendo and gossip. The document indicates that both the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation interviewed about 20 people who are identified as eyewitnesses. Those interviewed reported that the horse was first taken from a pen and ridden briefly during an early morning party in the Stanley County Fairgrounds. Other witnesses said they later saw Dahl riding the horse through town.
Prosecutors say the horse was taken sometime in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 5, from the Stanley County Fairgrounds.
In the affidavit, several witnesses tell investigators that they saw Dahl on the horse at various places within town. Some witnesses say the horse appeared to have been injured and many also said that it appeared Dahl had been drinking. Some of those interviewed thought that the horse belonged to Dahl.
Fort Pierre resident Bobbi Huck called 9-1-1 at 7:09 a.m. that day, saying that Dahl had damaged her vehicle, parked at 711 Two River Roads. Huck reported that Dahl was on a horse that had kicked her vehicle. Huck also reported horse hair and blood on the vehicle. Huck later said she had noticed Flint Dahl holding a horse in front of the downtown saddle shop, owned by David Dahl, the father of the suspect. She said the horse appeared to be injured.
David Dahl said he told Flint to put the horse in the pen behind the city utilities shop. The horse was found there by Halwig and a Stanley County Deputy Sheriff, who reported that he noticed the horse was badly injured.
David Dahl, in a later interview with investigators, said Flint did not appear to be intoxicated, that the horse had apparently received the burns after getting tangled up in a rope and that his son had not mistreated the horse.
In an interview with officers later that Sunday, Flint Dahl admitted taking the horse. He said earlier at the fairgrounds, he saw Seth Norman and another person, later identified as Lonny Lesmeister, riding the horse. Dahl told investigators that Norman had told him that it was his horse – something Norman later denied.
Flint Dahl said he took the horse to the residence at 711 Two Rivers to use the bathroom. Dahl said he tied the horse to a tree located near a car and did not notice the horse damage the vehicle. Dahl said he later put the horse in the pen as suggested by his father.
The Dahls later offered to pay for the damage to the Huck vehicle.
Some witnesses said they saw Lesmeister and Norman with Dually at the Stanley County Fairgrounds. Lesmeister admitted that he rode the horse briefly in the area, but returned Dually to a catch pen and that there was nothing wrong with the animal. Norman said he did not ride the horse or throw rocks at Dually to make him buck as was alleged by another witness.
Among the others interviewed was Halwig and Dr. Steve Tornberg, the veterinarian who cared for Dually.
Tornberg said the horse had suffered rope burns, minor lacerations, a quarter crack in the right hoof and sore ligaments. According to the documents, Tornberg said he has never seen “a horse with that many or as bad of rope burns in 30 years.”
Stanley County Deputy Sheriff Mike Rothschadl wrote in the affidavit that there was probable cause to charge Flint Dahl because people had seen him riding a horse in Fort Pierre that morning and the injuries described on the horse Dahl was riding were consistent with the ones found on Dually.
The horse is continuing to recover.
Categories: Comments and Stories, News About Dually,
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Greetings to Everyone!! I hope that the first few 'official' days of fall are treating you and your horse friends well. I have heard from various parts of the country that the weather is a bit cooler and wetter than in previous falls and I think we can collectively agree we are hoping that it is not a sign of an extra tough winter!!
The Justice For Dually banners have been proudly displayed by many of you and are available for your event! If you are interested in having the banner at your event or putting on a Justice For Dually benefit barrel race, please contact justicefordually@gmail.com. Thank you so much to those of you who have used the banners at your events!! Ali Miller had the banner at permit finals, Juli Jo Kelly held a benefit barrel race in Great Falls, MT, Larry Fossum had one at the Spirit of the West Festival, and Char Price her husband David have hung it at the bronc match in Ft Pierre and the Herried SDRA rodeo, just to name a few!!! THANK YOU ALL!!
Jodee Dakolios has generously donated a filly to be raffled for the Justice for Dually cause, and for more information regarding that please contact her at 307-763-0709.
Dually went in for his check up on Saturday and still has severe tendon damage. For those of you who have delt with tendon damage, you know that it is a tedious process. Very very slow going, but it is healing!!! Dually is healing and everyday he continues to put his heart into getting better!! The road to recovery is still long and winding and a bit bumpy, but he is making progress!
He has been prescribed another 30 days of stall rest and hand walking, and at that time will be re-evaluated by his veterinary team. I ask you all again to keep the faith, I wish I had more information that could be shared but until then we must remain focused on the Justice for Dually and Wendy!!
A horse gallops with its lungs, preseveres with its heart, and wins with its character. - Tesio
Give your horse an extra treat tonight!!
Sincerely
Kara
Categories: Comments and Stories, News About Dually,
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Greetings to all, I hope that everyone is having a wonderful day!
I
want to let everyone know that Dually went back for his 2 week check up
and though we are not completely satisfied with his progress, he is
still healing and progressing. He is back to stall rest and hand
walking only for the next 30 days which presents it's own set of
difficulties as he has the energy equivalent to about 3 horsepower!
Wendy is hand walking him daily and spending as much time with him
keeping his spirit up. After 30 days he will be going back to the
clinic for another check up and to evaluate his healing.
No
arrests have been made in regard to Dually's case, and with that said I
am asking you all to continue positive energy, prayers and of course
faith. Even when it seems as the world is stacked up against you and
the odds seem overwhelming, we must keep a spot in our heart and mind
for faith, not blind faith, but the faith that has a calm understanding
that things are going to work out and justice will be served. I know I
am asking you all to take a giant leap but we have to remind ourself
that this is not a 1 hour episode of CSI and that deliberate steps have
to be taken by the authorities. We must stand united - Justice For
Dually!!
Two banners have been donated to the Justice For
Dually cause by Fordham Signs, and are available for your event,
whether you are putting on a jackpot barrel race, roping or a rodeo. We
just ask that you contact justicefordaully@gmail.com
with your date as soon as you can so that we can get a banner to you on
time and after your event we will have you either ship it back to us or
ship it on to the next event, we will let you know which. I also have a
file that I can email to you if you would like to print off flyers for
your event to have at the entry office or hang at your local feed
store, ect. Just send your request to justicefordually@gmail.com.
Keep the faith,
Kara
Categories: News About Dually,
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
First and foremost I would like to apologize to everyone for not having an update sooner, we had some things going on and I was not able to keep up as good as I have been, but am back on track!!
With that said, today I am going to keep this message short and sweet just to let you all know that Dually was released from the vet clinic and is now healing comfortably at home!!!
How wonderful that he is healing and getting stronger every day!! As Wendy continues to fight for the Justice for Dually, I can still offer you no details, but simple generalities to let you know how things are progressing. It is a major undertaking to have Dually at home as Wendy must constantly monitor his progress and check and change his bandages, to ensure he is continuing to heal and quickly identify any issues that may arrise.
He is stalled, being walked and will be back to the clinic in just a few weeks for a check up on his progress!!
Thank you so much for your continued support!!
Peace
Kara
Categories: News About Dually,