Mitchell man who beat a dog to death pleads guilty

(KMIT – Mitchell, SD) A man who beat a dog to death at a Mitchell residence earlier this year has pleaded guilty to one count of cruelty to animals.  25-year old Aaron Hacecky (hatch-a-key) faces up to two years in prison on the Class 6 felony charge.  In exchange for the guilty plea, drug charges were dropped.  On July 30^th, officers were dispatched to a report of a dog being beaten in the backyard of a Mitchell residence.  Upon arrival, they witnessed Hacecky punching a black Lab in the head.  The officers were able to separate Hacecky from the dog and noticed that the dog’s mouth had been duct taped shut and its back and front legs had been duct taped together.  The dog was struggling to breathe and was taken to a veterinary clinic where it died from the abuse.  Hacecky admitted to tying up the dog and punching it in the head and ribs multiple times.  A pre-sentence report was ordered.  Sentencing was set for February 13^th.