SMITH TOWNSHIP, Mahoning Co., Ohio - A plea hearing has been set for a Mahoning County man who police say shot, strangled and buried two dogs back in 2020.

Court employees tell 21 News a plea hearing has been set for 46-year-old Gary Smith of Smith Township on Thursday, December 5 at 11 a.m. Smith is charged with four felony counts of animal cruelty.

The charges stem from an incident from back in 2020 where police say Smith shot, strangled and buried two dogs in his backyard. Humane agents said this incident stemmed from a case of domestic violence.

Authorities had been looking for Smith since May of 2021 after he failed to appear for a court hearing. He was transferred to the Mahoning County Jail from the Summit County Jail in May of 2024.

Smith was booked in the Summit County Jail in November of 2023 for unrelated drug charges. 

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