Nearly one month after a warrant was issued in connection with an animal cruelty case in Warren, the suspect in the case has been arragined.

According to court records, 44-year-old Randall Charlton pled not guilty to one first degree misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals Monday, March 17.

The charges stem from an incident when a dog was found underneath a pile of trash at a garbage facility as workers were preparing to move a heap of trash.

Healthy Hearts & Paws President and CEO Jason Cooke told 21 News he was able to speak with Charlton who claimed the dog had been missing for "quite some time," but Cooke said that didn't add up due to fresh paw prints spotted at the home.

Cooke added that the dog's living conditions were "deplorable."

Charlton is due back in court April 15. In the meantime, you can read more about this case in our related coverage below.

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