Dimitt Faces Five Cruelty Counts

Robert Dimitt, 57, of Sallisaw now faces five counts of cruelty to animals involving race horses in his care. 

Dimitt entered a not guilty plea to the charges last week in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw. Dimitt is represented by Tahlequah attorney Donn Baker.

Dimitt's case is on Judge Kyle Waters disposition docket on Oct. 28.

Dimitt, who lost his racing license as a trainer in Oklahoma for using drugs on horses, was training horses under the name of another trainer, Ty Blackwell, according to the affidavit filed with the charges in district court. Blackwell told investigators that Dimitt would carve out the bottom of horse hooves called the frog, because "it made the horses run faster."

Four of the five horses have died or had to be euthanized, according to the report, and another is in veterinary care. It is not know if the filly will survive, the affidavit reports. Three of the horses belonged to Dr. Edward Leslie, one belonged to Stormy and Phillip Rassfield and one belonged to Randy Davis.

The first set of three charges against Dimitt were filed for the horses owned by Leslie, who owns the one surviving horse, and the second set of charges were for the horses owned by the Rassfields and Davis. 

All remaining horses have been removed from Dimitt's care, Sheriff Ron Lockhart said.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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