'Dreadhead Cowboy' Pleads Guilty, Sentenced To 1 Year: Report

CHICAGO — Adam Hollingsworth, known more commonly has the "Dreadhead Cowboy", has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges nearly 18 months after he rode a horse up the Dan Ryan Expressway, according to published reports.

The Chicago Tribune, citing court records, reported Friday that Hollingsworth entered the guilty plea and was sentenced to a year in jail. The newspaper also reported that he agreed to surrender custody of the horse that was nearly killed in the ride that Hollingsworth said was made to bring awareness to children being abused in Chicago.

However, the Tribune reported that Hollingsworth could be released from custody as early as Monday due to credit for time served on electronic home monitoring while his case was pending.

In November, Hollingsworth was sentenced to 90 days in jail after a judge found him in contempt of court. Hollingsworth was representing himself and drew the ire of judge who had ordered Hollingsworth to have all of his materials ready for trial.

However, Hollingsworth told Judge Michael McHale that his dog had chewed up the flash drive that prosecutors had provided him that included files used as evidence in the animal cruelty charges Hollingsworth faces, the Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time.

Earlier in the court proceedings, Hollingsworth said he planned to call Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a character reference. But throughout the process, he frustrated the judge in the case for his constant stalling in being prepared to defend himself against the charges.

Hollingsworth was originally arrested in September 2020 for riding a horse down the Dan Ryan. Patch previously reported that the horse – which sustained serious injuries in the ride- got up to 15 mph during the ride but averaged about 12 mph.

The ride, which began at 4:20 p.m. at the 47th Street exit of the Dan Ryan, ended after the rider, later identified as Hollingsworth, exited the expressway at 95th Street and was taken into custody by state troopers.