SIDNEY - The prosecution in Hamburg Mayor Terry Holliman's upcoming animal abuse trial has requested the trial be moved from Fremont County. Holliman is resisting the move, according to court documents.

Holliman is charged with seven counts of animal abuse after allegedly telling his police chief to shoot seven dogs after they were removed from a Hamburg home in 2005. He has denied doing so.

A Fremont County jury acquitted Holliman of theft charges in April. The prosecution claims publicity generated from that case would make it difficult to conduct a fair trial, court documents indicated.

Former Hamburg Police Chief Nick Millsap allegedly removed the dogs from a rental home after the landlord complained they were damaging the property. He is also facing charges in connection with the incident.

The dogs' owner, Elizabeth Brock was in jail when the animals were killed and later claimed her daughter had been taking care of the dogs, but they hadn't been let out of the house enough.

Brock was awarded $3,500 in damages in a small claims lawsuit against Millsap and the city of Hamburg.

A hearing on the change of venue motion is scheduled for June 18.