Withee Man Sentenced For Mutilating Dog
Saturday, April 18th, 2015 -- 7:30 AM
A Withee man was sentenced to a mental health facility for attempting to mutilate his dog in May of 2014.At that time, a dog, named Sammy, was found in the City of Owen with a laceration to her lower jaw. Initially, the Owen Police Department believed she had been hit by a car, but after receiving a call that Charles Weissmiller had attempted to mutilate himself, and pieces of flesh were discovered with fur attached while investigating that incident, they realized what happened. When the officers later questioned Weissmiller in the hospital, he admitted that he tried to skin the dog alive because he didn't want her anymore.
During a hearing in Clark County Court back in February Weissmiller entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of mistreatment of animals. However, after the judge found him guilty, due to his mental state at the time of the crime, he was found not guilty. Both the prosecutor and defense attorney, as well as the judge, found that Weissmiller was unable to comprehend his actions when he mutilated himself and the dog, according to the reports they received that had been compiled by mental health professionals. Weissmiller was psychotic when the incident occurred, but is taking medication now.
Weissmiller was sentenced to 18 months in the Trempealeau County Health Care Center. He was also ordered to make an effort to repay the dog's vet bills totaling $2,100.
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