Albany County Man Bound Over on Felony Animal Cruelty Charge

An Albany County man accused of intentionally striking a horse with a four-wheeler, resulting in its euthanasia, has been bound over to Albany County District Court.

Stuart Schmidt on Tuesday, Aug. 26, waived his preliminary hearing.

The 60-year-old Schmidt is charged with felony cruelty to animals, a crime punishable by up to two years in prison, up to a $5,000 fine, or both.

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Case Background

According to the Albany County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called to the Wild Horse Ranch around 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 18, after Schmidt reportedly used a four-wheeler to intentionally run down a horse.

"After the horse managed to stand again, (Schmidt) reportedly struck it a second time," the agency said in a press release late Tuesday afternoon.

"Due to the severity of the horse’s injuries and the extreme suffering it endured, the owner of the Wild Horse Herd made the difficult decision to humanely put the animal down," the Sheriff's Office added.

Schmidt was subsequently arrested and charged with felony cruelty to animals.

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, Schmidt was seen in Albany County Circuit Court on the charge.

He was given a $1,000 signature bond and ordered not to have contact with the owner(s) of the horse.

"Our office takes crimes against animals very seriously," the ACSO said. "We are committed to seeking justice in this case and will continue to hold individuals accountable who engage in such acts of violence."

"We want to acknowledge the distress this has caused the community, and our thoughts are with those who witnessed this tragic event," the department added.

Please remember that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.