Barnesville Couple Pleads to Animal Abuse Charges

The Barnesville man charged with animal abuse and criminal mischief has entered guilty pleas and has been sentenced.

Scott Wolfe was originally charged with keeping 20 dogs and three horses in deplorable conditions. This past Tuesday, Wolfe pled guilty to two counts of animal cruelty and one count of criminal mischief. All jail time was suspended, but he is not allowed to possess animals for two years.

He also placed nails on a surface where motorcyclists parked as part of a fundraiser for Belmont County Hoof and Paw–the organization that rescued his animals. For this charge, Wolfe was ordered to pay $666 in restitution to replace a ruined tire. Wolfe will be on probation for two years.

Belmont County Hoof and Paw provided additional details on the court proceedings and pleas posting on Facebook:

Today concluded the Scott Wolfe/Tess Kuhlmann case of animal abuse. Both pleaded guilty to animal abuse and received 90 days per count suspended, a $500 fine and court costs, and a restitution of over $10,000. Neither can own, possess, or harbor any animals for the next two years nor break any laws in the next two years

In addition, Scott pled guilty to the charge of Criminal Mischief for putting nails in the parking lot of our fundraiser at The Route 40 Lumberjax, he received 60 days in jail, all suspended, fines, and court costs, 2 years’ probation, and must make restitution of $666 to replace the back tire of one of the bikes.

All the animals have been rescued and will go to good homes.