Pastor pleads innocent to animal cruelty charges

BOARDMAN — A pastor accused of animal cruelty has pleaded innocent to the charges.

Timothy Hayes, 35, of East Western Reserve Road, was charged last week with five counts of animal cruelty. He pleaded innocent Thursday night in Mahoning County Area Court. He is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Sept. 8.

Police were called to the home where Hayes, pastor of Woodworth Church of the Brethren, lives on a report of four neglected dogs. The church owns the home.

Police called Animal Charity, which filed the charges.

Three dogs kept outside had to be put down because of poor health, humane agents said. A dog inside a breezeway of the home and a rabbit that was in a cage in a garage were removed.