× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

A Lodi man pleaded to a felony charge after police said he tortured a rabbit to death and that he “actually enjoyed it.”

Dillon G. Schutz, 23, of rural Lodi, pleaded no contest Monday in Columbia County Circuit Court to felony mistreatment of animals — causing death.

Schutz could face up to 1 ½ years in prison on the charge on an initial sentence. A sentencing date has not been set pending an investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections into Schutz’s past.

Judge W. Andrew Voigt said Schutz, by pleading to the charge, admits that prosecutors could prove that he intentionally treated the rabbit in a cruel manner and that the treatment resulted in the rabbit’s death.

Lodi police say they investigated a report in June 2013 of the death by torture of a pet rabbit that Schutz was taking care of for a friend over the weekend of June 21 to June 23, 2013.

Police said they were told Schutz tortured the rabbit and took video during the torture, and that he had shown people the video while at a party.