Father Accused of Shocking 2 Sons

A man with a history of violence against his two young sons and his ex-wife was accused of using an electrified dog collar to punish the boys for lying or not exercising.

Jeffery Hoveland, 50, was charged Friday with two counts of malicious punishment of a child, the Ramsey County attorney’s office said. Hoveland shocked his two sons, ages 9 and 11, more than 20 times each in the past two or three months, police said.

The boys told their mother that Hoveland would make them wear the dog collar, which sent shocks by remote control, when they didn’t read, do sit-ups, or when they lied, police said. The boys lived with their mother, Jeannie Hoveland, and often visited their father.