C-Falls man sentenced for mistreating horses

A 66-year-old Columbia Falls man who faced two charges of cruelty to animals was sentenced to one year with the Montana Department of Corrections, all suspended.

Flathead County District Court Judge Heidi Ulbricht sentenced Kent Petry on Sept. 26 following an earlier plea agreement.

Petry was also ordered to pay $6,506 in restitution to the Flathead County Animal Control Department.

Petry initially was given a deferred prosecution agreement after his two horses were found in a corral containing horse feces one foot deep in September 2012.

But he violated the terms of the agreement about three months later, and the charges were re-filed.

According to court documents, on Dec. 22, 2012, a warden from the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office found one of Petry’s horses down but trying to get back up.

A veterinarian who came to the site recommended immediate transport and care.

The downed horse drank 7 1/2 gallons of water before being transported and 5 gallons more later. It had trouble standing because of an injury to a hind leg.

Veterinarian costs for the two horses in the first three weeks ran to $4,000, and Flathead County District Court Judge David Ortley ordered downed horse euthanized on Jan. 25, 2013.

Petry had faced up to three years with the Department of Corrections, a fine up to $3,500, payments on veterinarian bills as well as ongoing costs for the remaining horse, and possible restrictions on whether he can own animals.