By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

A Hillsboro man whose charges took three years to be filed has pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse a year after 10 original charges were filed.

Isaac Gene Hilliard, 27, pleaded guilty to abuse of a child June 4. As part of a plea agreement, Hilliard will complete a batterer’s intervention program.

Four counts of domestic battery, four counts of endangering a child, and a count of criminal restraint were dismissed.

The original allegations against Hilliard included killing the family dog in front of his child. The case took three years to make it to court because of investigative and prosecutorial delays.

Hilliard was never taken into custody during that time.

Incidents between Hilliard and his former wife occurred between May 1 and Aug. 7, 2014.

The couple was divorced, and the former wife got sole custody of their child during the time it took for charges to be filed.