A Pottawattamie County man facing 40 counts of Animal Neglect is scheduled to appear in court, Wednesday. 35 year old Dustin Young, of Hancock, was charge after authorities searched his hunting dog training and breeding company in May.  Young is currently out on $20,000 bond.  He plead not guilty in July, but a plea agreement is being discussed. His  trial had been scheduled to begin today (11/14).

If convicted of the crime, Young faces a maximum sentence of $1,875 in fines and a year in jail for each of the four serious misdemeanor animal neglect charges.  Young is also charged with 36 animal neglect counts as simple misdemeanors.  The maximum penalty for each charge is $625 in fines and up to 30 days in jail.

Young is also named as the defendant in a lawsuit filed by Pottawattamie County seeking compensation for costs of animal control that law enforcement accrued while rescuing 41 dogs found on his property.  That amount will be determined after his neglect case is resolved.

(KNOD)