La Pine-area man accused of hitting dog with shovel arraigned on 2 charges; June plea hearing set

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A La Pine-area man seen on widely distributed video apparently striking his dog repeatedly with a shovel was arraigned on two charges Tuesday and a plea hearing was set.

Deschutes County Circuit Judge Alycia Herriott set a June 27 plea hearing for John Coe Richardson, 75, who was indicted nearly two weeks ago on charges of first-degree aggravated animal abuse, a Class C felony, and second-degree animal abuse, a Class B misdemeanor.

The felony charge alleges Richardson on April 26 "did unlawfully and knowingly torture an animal." The second charge relates to the serious physical injuries the dog, Hooch, suffered.

Richardson forfeited Hooch and his two other dogs after a KTVZ Problem Solvers report on the widely viewed video and Richardson's arrest the next day.

Attorneys sought no changes at Tuesday's brief hearing on the conditions imposed when Richardson was released from jail, including that he possess no domestic animals while the case is pending.