DAVENPORT, Iowa — A Davenport man charged in a disturbing animal neglect case has pleaded guilty and been sentenced, according to Scott County Court records.
Joshua Schmidt, 26, entered a guilty plea on October 6, 2025, to three counts of animal neglect resulting in serious injury or death and one count of animal neglect with injury. Two additional charges of neglect with injury were dismissed at sentencing.
Schmidt was sentenced to 360 days in the Scott County Jail for each count, to be served concurrently. He received credit for time already served, with all but 10 days suspended.
He was also ordered to pay $2,995 in fines — including $855 per neglect-with-death charge and $430 for the neglect-with-injury charge — plus a 15% surcharge. In addition, Schmidt will serve one year of unsupervised probation.
The case began in June 2024, when Scott County Animal Protection Services responded to a home on West Third Street. Investigators discovered several deceased cats and a rabbit stored in a freezer.
Schmidt and Suzanne Schmidt, who was also arrested in the incident, were charged following the gruesome discovery. Suzanne Schmidt’s case remains pending as court proceedings continue.
