(Lawrenceburg, IN) – A former dog trainer who was arrested a year ago this month has entered guilty pleas in Dearborn County to eight misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
Timothy Helser has another year to serve in prison, stemming from the investigation that began in December 2021.
Dearborn County Prosecutor Lynn Deddens says Helser was renting the former B & W Motors on U.S. 50 in Greendale before he was evicted.
Greendale Police were told that Helser drove off the property in a U-Haul and left the dogs that he was training behind.
That is where, investigators say, eight dogs were found living in horrendous conditions, and the remains of nine dead dogs were found on the property.
Charges were filed against Helser in January of 2022 and remained active until his arrest last February.
He withdrew his original not guilty plea and pled guilty to all eight counts of animal cruelty.
Judge Jonathan Cleary sentenced Helser to four years with zero suspended to probation.
Helser will finish serving his sentence in the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center on February 2, 2026.
“This was a difficult case for law enforcement, Dearborn County Animal Control officers, PAWS, the property owner and my office to understand how a person, under the guise of being a dog trainer could so inhumanely treat and then abandon dogs,” Deddens said. “lt took a bit to get Mr. Helser extradited back to the State of lndiana on misdemeanor charges. I am happy justice was served.”
