(Minnehaha County, SD) — Former South Dakota State Police Chief Tim Heaton is pleading guilty to animal cruelty. Heaton was originally charged with five counts but pleaded guilty to just one as part of his agreement. Upon a search of his home, Brookings Police found feces up to a foot deep in some areas of his house along with cobwebs, frozen water pails and structural damage from a previous fire. South Dakota State University said in a statement to Keloland that Heaton is no longer working as police chief on the campus. A sentencing hearing has been set for May 19th.
