Trial dates set in Nashua poisoned dog case

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Three people charged with poisoning a dog and keeping its carcass in the freezer of a home in Nashua are pleading not guilty and their trials have been set for the coming months.

Christopher Allan Dann, 30, of Charles City, is charged with child endangerment, animal abuse and unlawful possession of a prescription drug.

Anthony Hoffman, 44, of Nashua, is charged with child endangerment, animal abuse, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug.

Jennifer Hoffman, 34, of Nashua, is charged with child endangerment.

The trials of Dann and Jennifer Hoffman are set to start on May 23. Anthony Hoffman’s trial is set to begin on Aug. 1. The trials will be at the Chickasaw County Courthouse in New Hampton.

On Wednesday, March 7, Nashua police were called to the home of Jennifer and Anthony Hoffman at 421 Wentling Street for a domestic dispute. Once police arrived, someone on the scene mentioned that the homeowner’s dog was missing under unusual circumstances, and its body may be in the basement freezer.

According to the report, police later obtained a search warrant for the home, and discovered that there was a deceased canine in the freezer. Police also found methamphetamine and prescription drugs.

A child in the home was taken to Allen Hospital Child Protection Center the following day for an interview. During the interview, the child allegedly stated his uncle, Anthony Hoffman, poisoned the dog and threatened to place the same poison in his milk because he should “feel the same way the canine feels.”

A second canine was taken from the home during the search and a substance believed to be rat poison was found in its kennel. That dog was delivered to a nearby animal shelter.

Child endangerment and animal abuse are both aggravated misdemeanors. All the drug-related charges are serious misdemeanors.

Aggravated misdemeanors are the most serious class of misdemeanors in Iowa, punishable by up to two years in jail and a fine of $625 to $6,250 for each charge. A serious misdemeanor in Iowa is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of between $315 and $1,875 for each charge.