A former Trumbull County Deputy Dog Warden has been sentenced to six months probation on an animal cruelty charge.

Former Deputy Dog Warden, Charles Parks pled no contest to one count of Prohibition Concerning Companion Animals. Parks was found guilty on this charge and all other charges against him were dropped.

Parks was ordered to pay $250 in court costs and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, but these days were suspended. Instead, he is sentenced to six months probation and humane agents are required to investigate all of his animals.

The charge stems from an incident from August of 2022, when the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County investigated Parks after he had deprived dogs of food and water for at least two shifts.

On August 31, Trumbull Commissioners voted 2-1 to place Parks on unpaid leave. He remained on unpaid leave for six months.

Last week, commissioners voted 2-1 to move Parks to a different department, with Commissioner Malloy basing his vote on the fact that he was not a commissioner during the initial investigation and Commissioner Frenchko basing her vote on a violation of the Ohio Revised Code regarding unpaid leave.

Parks is no longer allowed to be employed by Trumbull County in any position dealing with animals as a result of this case.

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