UPDATE: Man pleads guilty to animal cruelty charges

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A man charged with animal cruelty admitted to the crime Thursday.

Jessie Shafer, development director for the Kanawha County Humane Association, says Frank Miller, 43, had 14 dogs and two cats living in filth on his property in Hernshaw.

He was arrested on March 13.

Wounds and scarring were noticeable on many of the dogs, according to the criminal complaint in the case.

West Virginia State Police say Miller is also a sex offender and failed to provide the address on Lens Creek Road in Hernshaw with the West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.

Shafer says the animals that were sick are doing much better after receiving treatment at KCHA.

As a part of the guilty plea, Miller will spend six months in jail and pay $6,000 to help cover the costs of the animals rehabilitation.

He also can't own animals for five years.

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – A Kanawha County man was arrested on animal cruelty charges and failure to register as a sex offender, court records show.

Frank Miller, 43, of Hernshaw, is charged with cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor, after authorities were notified about fourteen dogs and two cats “living in squalor” without proper food, water and medical treatment.

Wounds and scarring were noticeable on many of the dogs, according to the criminal complaint.

Authorities say Miller was given a matter of days to correct the situation, but failed to do so and was charged Thursday, March 9.

West Virginia State Police say Miller is also a sex offender and was housing the dogs on a rental property. State Police say Miller failed to provide the address on Lens Creek Road in Hernshaw with the West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.

Miller is facing 16 counts of animal cruelty and four counts of failure to register as a sex offender.

He is being held at the South Central Regional Jail. His bond was set at $25,000.