I've Been Drunk. l've Just Never Been Dog-Decapitating Drunk. But the Holidays Are Coming, so There's Hope

A jury trial has been set for Feb. 28 for a man accused of decapitating a family's dog during a camping trip Labor Day weekend.

Russell J. Howald, 29, whose address has been listed as both Basin and Butte, faces a mixture of felony and misdemeanor charges including aggravated animal cruelty, attempted aggravated animal cruelty, tampering with evidence, criminal endangerment, two counts of intimidation and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

The charges stem from a Sept. 3 incident in which Howald is alleged to have shot and then cut off the head of a chocolate Labrador retriever named Gunner, which was owned by a Butte family enjoying a holiday weekend at the Ladysmith campground near Bernice.

Howald is also alleged to have thrown a beer bottle at another camping family as well as fired a gun at a man after an altercation. In addition, he was involved in a vehicle rollover - all in the same weekend....

Howald remains free on $35,000 bond, reduced from the $100,000 set when he was arrested for the crimes by Jefferson County police. A long list of conditions accompany the reduction, including working full time, avoiding contact with the victims including the John Sullivan family of Butte whose dog was killed, not associating with felons, not possessing firearms and being home by an 8 p.m. curfew every night.

Oh, yeah, that bail money's gone. Jefferson County, enjoy.