Cedar County criminal charges were filed Dec. 27, 2012, stemming from a Dec. 28, 2011, incident on the El Dorado Springs High School softball field in which four goats were found abused, dying and dead along with an abused piglet in a dumpster.

Cedar County Prosecutor Rick Pohlsander charged Hunter D. Harper, Tyrel Charles Parsley and Joshua A. Markus with multiple misdemeanors.

Only Harper faces a felony charge in connection with the incident. He is charged with the felony of Animal Abuse by torture and/or mutilation while animal was alive.

Harper, Parsley and Markus are each charged with five misdemeanors: three for violating provisions regarding disposal of dead animals and two for animal neglect or abandonment. Each is also charged with an infraction for trespassing – 2nd degree.