JAMESTOWN TOWNSHIP – A man spurred by an argument with his wife and suspicions that she was involved with the man who boards their horse is accused of using a knife to kill their animal and a 6-year-old Palomino that belonged the property owner, police say.

Authorities identified the suspect as 47-year-old Dennis Finkler, a lifelong Ottawa County resident with no prior criminal record.

Finkler today was charged with two counts of killing or torturing an animal and one count of malicious destruction of property stemming from the alleged horse-killing.

Ottawa County sheriff's Lt. Mark Bennett said Finkler and his wife argued Friday night at the property of the stable owner. He left and returned early Saturday and killed the horses - the couple's 12-year Quarter Horse and the owner's Palomino – with a knife, Bennett said.

“He was upset over his beliefs of a relationship between his wife was having with the other man,” Bennett said. “It's a peculiar crime, but it's a brutal attack.”

Authorities said the animals had a value of about $20,000.

The Palomino owner called police Saturday morning when he went to the stable to do chores associated with the animals and found them dead. The boarding area is separate from the man's residence on the property, police said.

The homeowner told arriving officers that Finkler had left angry late the night before.

Investigators located the suspect at his home and took him in to custody, police said.

If convicted, Finkler faces up to four years in prison.

E-mail Nate Reens: nreens@grpress.com