Trial Set: No Plea Agreement Reached In Animal Abuse Case

Picture courtesy Nebraska Humane Society

Boone County’s attorney isn’t happy with how a proposed plea agreement in a felony animal abuse case has worked out, so trial has been scheduled for July.

Sixty-seven year old James Majerus of Petersburg appeared in Boone County District Court Tuesday morning. Majerus’ attorney Richard Alexander said that both sides had agreed to a plea agreement but that Boone County prosecutors didn’t feel Majerus was living up to his end of the bargain. The details of the potential plea agreement weren’t revealed.

Majerus pleaded not guilty to felony charges of felony neglect of livestock in April. The Nebraska Humane Society and Boone County Sheriff’s Department confiscated horses from Majerus’ property outside of Petersburg back in December after concerns had been raised about the horses’ well-being.

Judge Rachel Daugherty set Majerus’ trial date for July 30th in Albion. He also faces a possible violation of his probation related to a previous animal abuse case if he’s convicted again.