Two animal cruelty cases came before the Greene County Court of Common Pleas for plea court hearings Wednesday morning.
Judge Louis Dayich recused himself from the case of one defendant due to personal ties.
Lois Pust, 53, of Waynesburg, faces felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals and neglect to animals.
Dayich had recognized Pust in the courtroom Wednesday from when she had helped care for his mother.
“I just think it would be better if I don’t hear the case,” he said.
Investigators who searched Pust’s home in December found two dogs they had described as malnourished and left without food. They were subsequently taken to Waynesburg Animal Hospital for recovery.
Dayich directed the court administrator to appoint a new judge to preside over the case. No new hearing date had been set Wednesday.
The other scheduled hearing did not take place after the defendant failed to show up.
Jennifer Fisher, 48, of Marianna, is charged with felony counts of cruelty to animals and aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor counts of neglecting animals.
Her attorney, Mark Kovach, said she was unable to be there because she could not get a ride to the courthouse.
In November, police performing a wellness check at Fisher’s house in Waynesburg reportedly found two dead dogs, as well as another that was severely malnourished.
Dayich issued a bench warrant but said he would wait until next week to sign it to give him time to learn if Fisher had a good enough reason for not being able to travel.
