Man who hit horse with shovel sentenced

Gainesville resident Darrell Logan Sr. was given a suspended execution of sentence, placed on unsupervised probation for two years, ordered to complete 40 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine, along with court costs, in connection with an August 2020 incident in which Logan is alleged to hit a horse in the head with a shovel. 

Logan submitted an Alford guilty plea to the class A misdemeanor of animal abuse in open court before Associate Judge Raymond Gross on March 25.

An Alford plea, sometimes called a “best-interests” plea, means that Logan is not claiming guilt or innocence but believes the evidence against him would convince a jury to convict him at trial. A defendant who pleads guilty by Alford plea can be sentenced the same as if he or she had entered a straight guilty plea.

Logan was represented by defense attorney Lee Pipkins. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant represented the state.