Dimitt Formally Charged with Cruelty

Robert Dimitt, 57, was formally charged with two counts of cruelty to animals Thursday in Sequoyah County District Court in Sallisaw.

The charges resulted from an investigation that found dead and mutilated horses in Dimitt's care and at his farm in Sallisaw's east side.

Dimmitt, a racehorse trainer, had lost his license to be the trainer of record in Oklahoma, but he continued to train as his horses raced under the training licenses of two other individuals.

Dimitt was arrested Aug. 7 for animal cruelty, and is free on a $25,000 bond.

The investigation began when the agent for a horse owner came to Sallisaw to check on the owners two horses, and found one dead and one in such bad shape it had to be put down. Another horse owned by the same man was found to be crippled at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. An investigation is ongoing there too. That filly, Gold Digging Ashley, winner of over $355,000 horses, is in the care of a veterinary clinic.

It was reported the horses had lost immense amounts of weight, and had the bottoms of their hooves, which is called the frog, cut away.

Sheriff Ron Lockhart said Dimitt had about 22 horses in his care, and all have been recovered by their owners or other trainers.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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