HAMILTON – A 36-year-old southwestern Montana man who pleaded guilty to shooting his father’s horse during an argument has been sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Jalen Ore Elliott of Conner pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty Thursday in District Court in Hamilton. In exchange, prosecutors dropped charges of assault with a weapon and criminal mischief.
Olen Elliott told District Judge James Haynes that his son “just had a bad day and didn’t know what he was doing” when he shot the 8-year-old horse in the neck in February, causing it to bleed to death. Prosecutors say Elliott threatened his father and another man with the gun.
Haynes sentenced Elliott to a year in jail with all but 30 days suspended. He was given credit for the 14 days he has served and was taken into custody after the hearing.