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• Ellsworth man pleads guilty to police battery

By Jason Schulte, RiverTowns staff

An Ellsworth man pled guilty Monday in Pierce County Circuit Court to battery of a police officer.

James E. Peterson, 75, 200 N. Northview, was placed on a deferred prosecution agreement for one year. Terms of the agreement call for Peterson to follow through with recommended counseling and not commit any crimes. If he does, the charge will be dismissed.

The charge stems from an incident in February in which Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Jean Spletstoser went to visit a tenant of Peterson's. According to the criminal complaint, the tenant was claiming Peterson stopped by the farm the tenant was living at and yelled at him about neglecting Peterson's horses on the farm.

Spletstoser, who is the sheriff's department humane officer, looked at the horses and said in her report the barn was clean, along with all the stalls, and "there was no signs of neglect on any of the horses."

Spletstoser went to Peterson's residence two days later to get his side of the story. When initially asked about the incident, Peterson responded with "I don't know what you're talking about." After a brief interruption, she pressed Peterson further on the alleged neglect of the horses. Peterson believed there was neglect and he would be calling a veterinarian.

For more please read the Oct. 28 print version of the Herald.