Men accused of beating pigs to death

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20100422/NEWS97/100429867/0#men-accused-of-beating-pigs-to-death

Published Thursday April 22, 2010

LE MARS - Authorities say 13 pigs that were stolen from hog confinements in northwest Iowa were beaten to death with a hammer and buried near a creek in rural Plymouth County.

The Sheriff’s Office says three hog confinements were broken into last Thursday or Friday. The pigs were stolen from two of them, while tools were taken from the other one.

Four people were arrested after the break-ins, and two of them are accused of killing the pigs.

Jason Peters, of Brunsville, and Ryan Utesch, of Le Mars, are each charged with livestock abuse. The

All four remain jailed on $20,000 bail each. The Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday said each has requested a court-appointed attorney. - AP