Dennis Finkler, the man who slit the throats of two horses as retribution for his belief that his wife was having an affair with the man who ran a stable where they housed the animal, has pleaded no contest to the offenses.
Investigators said Finkler, 47, had a jealous fit Feb. 11 over his perception of a relationship between his wife and the man where they boarded her 12-year-old Quarter Horse,Mr. Total Package
He argued with them at the stable along 8th Avenue in Jamestown Township the night before the animal slayings, investigators said.
Finkler left after the 11 p.m. dispute, but returned in the early morning hours and killed the Quarter Horse and the man's 6-year-old Palomino named Gambler, police said.
Police said the Palomino owner called authorities when he found the animals dead in his stable while going to the area to do chores associated with the horses. The boarding area is separate from the man's residence on the property, police said.
The man told arriving officers that Finkler had left angry late the night before. Finkler, a Conklin area beef cattle farmer, was arrested at his home about 26 miles from the scene of the crimes.
Authorities said the horses had a value of about $20,000.
Finkler pleaded no contest to two counts of torturing and killing an animal and a charge of malicious destruction of property.
The plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing purposes. Ottawa Circuit Court Judge Jon Hulsing reviewed a police report as the factual basis for the plea. Judge Hulsing will sentence Finkler on July 5 and the man could be ordered to five years behind bars.
This petition is to indicate to Judge Hulsing to sentence this man to at least 5 years behind bars, and a very large fine.
