Former Central Wisconsin Man Scheduled for Trial for Animal Abuse

Thursday, January 18th, 2024 -- 10:01 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A former Central Wisconsin resident is scheduled for trial this spring for a felony count of mistreatment of animals.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, Andrew Gehr of Mankato, Minnesota will return to Wausau for a three-day trial from April 2nd through the 4th. A final pre-trial conference will be held on March 11th.

The 32-year-old is accused of physically abusing his former girlfriend’s cat in 2021 and then hiding the animal in a shed on her property in Schofield. While the cat was hidden, investigators say he pretended to help the family look for her.

The cat was later rushed to a local vet and was put down due to the nature of her injuries. Those included total blindness and some loss of brain function. Geher was initially charged with misdemeanor counts of animal abuse in connection with the case.

Family members petitioned the Judge and protested outside the Marathon County Courthouse during early hearings in the case, saying the charges should be bumped to felony status. Judge Gregory Strasser amended the charges in early 2022.

He now faces a Class I felony, which is punishable by up to three and a half years in prison and $10,000 in fines. The case has been scheduled for trial on at least one other occasion as well but was delayed.

In the meantime, Gehr is free on a $1,000 signature bond. Court records show he relocated from Wausau to Mankato in late 2022.

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