JEFFERSON, Ohio – Pretrial hearings have begun in the case of Harlan Baldwin have begun in Ashtabula County’s Eastern County Court under Judge Robert Wynn.
Baldwin has been charged with 49 counts of animal cruelty in connection with dairy heifers found dead and alive in a hip-deep manure pack that had accumulated in the Sheffield Township barn he was renting.
The dead animals buried in the manure pack were found in various stages of decomposition. The charges also included 11 live animals suffering from dyhydration or emiciation. Baldwin has since cleaned out the barn.
After pleading not guilty to the charges in April 5, he was released on a $30,000 bond.
Attorneys for Baldwin and Ashtabula County Prosecutor Thomas Sartini met May 25 with Judge Wynn to establish court dates and to set the timeline for the case.
The discovery process, where each side reveals to the other what evidence it has, has been scheduled for July 1, and another pretrial hearing for July 9.
Judge Wynn will hear motions from both sides on July 27.
No trial date has yet been set.
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