Nick Milsap entered a written plea of guilty to one count of animal abuse in Fremont County District Court earlier this week.

Milsap was charged with seven counts of animal abuse after it was alleged that he, along with former Hamburg police officer Jarid Means, removed seven dogs and puppies from a Hamburg residence on Sept. 15, 2005 and killed each of them - six by gunshots and one by stomping on its head.

The dogs' owner, Elizabeth Brock, filed a claim against the City of Hamburg, Milsap and Means. On Feb. 14, 2006, Fremont County Magistrate Court Judge Dennis James awarded Brock a total of $3,500 in damages and restitution.

In an interview with Shenandoah radio station KMA in January of 2006, Milsap expressed remorse over the incident, which drew attention from animal rights groups nation-wide, including the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Milsap asked the court for a deferred judgement, and sentencing will be July 30.

Hamburg Mayor Terry Holliman was also charged with seven counts of animal abuse in connection with the case. He has pled not guilty to the charges, and his trial is set to being July 10.

The Pottawattamie County Attorney's office is prosecuting the case at the request of former Fremont County Attorney Vicki Danley, who cited a conflict of interest a the reason for the request.

The Pottawattamie County Attorney's office had filed a change of venue request for Holliman's trial, but withdrew that request earlier this week.

Each of the seven counts of animal abuse is an aggravated misdemeanor which carries a potential of two years in prison on each charge.

According to the Iowa Code, a person is guilty of animal abuse if the person intentionally injures, maims, disfigures or destroys an animal owned by another person, in any manner, including intentionally poisoning the animal.

Holliman's case is scheduled to go to trial July 10 at the Fremont County Courthouse.