Local animal cruelty case has new hearing date
A former New Prague man appeared in Rice County District Court in Faribault Wednesday, June 11, on charges stemming from the death of a neighbor's dog in April.
An omnibus hearing was held for Anton Steven Metzenhuber, 34, who faces charges of torture or cruelty to an animal resulting in death or great bodily harm, theft and receiving stolen property. According to the Rice County Court Administrator's office, a contested omnibus hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. July 24.
Metzenhuber has been charged with the death of Buddy, a miniature beagle owned by his neighbor Norman Hallet. The pet went missing April 6. The dog's body was later found in the channel between Cody-Phelps Lake in Rice County Tuesday, April 8, after a witness reported having seen someone throw a dog into the lake.
According to statements to the New Prague Police Department at the time of arrest, Metzenhuber denies killing Buddy.