ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — Two people accused of setting their dog on fire in Albany back in February were arraigned on an animal cruelty indictment in Albany County Court on Wednesday, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office announced. Christopher Maxwell, 34, and Latisha Ellis, 32, previously pleaded not guilty in city court on March 21.
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According to investigators, Maxwell and Ellis allegedly set their one-year-old mixed breed pit bull on fire after leaving the dog on its own at their home for nearly two weeks. Albany Police located the animal’s dead body in a crate in a parking lot near Fourth Avenue and Franklin Street on February 24.
The resulting investigation led to Maxwell’s arrest on March 8 and Ellis’ arrest on March 19. The two pleaded not guilty to all of the following charges before Judge William Little on April 9:
Maxwell
- Aggravated cruelty to animals
- Overdriving, torturing, injuring and not feeding an animal
- Fifth-degree arson
- Criminal mischief with intent to damage property
- Two counts of tampering with physical evidence
Ellis
- Aggravated cruelty to animals
- Two counts of overdriving, torturing, injuring and not feeding an animal
Maxwell and Ellis were released under probationary supervision after being arraigned. If convicted, Maxwell faces up to four years in state prison, while Ellis faces up two years in local jail. The pair have been banned by court order from owning animals while proceedings are underway.
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