Westminster man pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges, will serve 18 months of home detention

A Westminster man will serve 18 months of home detention after police charged him with torturing and starving two dogs.

Dale E. Hoff, 58, of the 600 block of Warfieldsburg Road, pleaded guilty on Monday to one count each of aggravated animal cruelty and animal cruelty: fail to provide necessary care, such as food, drink, proper space, or veterinary care, online court records show.

A criminal indictment, filed Sept. 26, 2019, states Hoff intentionally caused the torture of a female Great Pyrenees-type dog named Diamond on or about July 9, 2019, at his residence. This led to the first charge of aggravated animal cruelty. Then, on or about July 12, Hoff failed to provide nutritious food in sufficient quantity to a golden-mix type dog named Fluffers, also at his home, the indictment reads.

He was sentenced to three years with all but 18 months suspended for aggravated animal cruelty and three months, all suspended, for animal cruelty: fail to provide.

Hoff’s attorney, Robert Smith III of Westminster, said Wednesday afternoon that the sentence will be served as home detention, largely due to his age and other health issues in the context of the pandemic.

“He’s happy this is behind him,” Smith said.

Hoff was also ordered to pay about $2,000 in restitution to the Humane Society of Carroll County in Westminster. He will serve three years of probation and be monitored by an ankle bracelet, Smith said.

While on probation, Hoff is prohibited from having any domestic animals like pet cats or dogs, according to Smith. The humane society may conduct random inspections of his home.

Although drugs and alcohol were not a factor in Hoff’s case, he will submit to drug and alcohol screenings, a standard condition of probation, Smith added.

“He plans to scrupulously comply with the conditions of probation,” Smith said.

Hoff was indicted on two felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty, intentionally causing the “torture of a canine,” according to a Carroll County Circuit Court indictment. He also faced 12 misdemeanor charges related to animal cruelty and two counts of driving a vehicle on a suspended license. The state chose to abandon the other charges, online court records indicate.

Hoff was briefly committed Oct. 4, released on $500 bail, and then re-committed July 13, online court records show.