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But then Stuart Goldman, special investigator for the SPCA, charged each suspect with three more counts of failing to provide veterinary care on April 19, 20 and 21, 2004, and the suspects were arraigned on those counts.
Judge Louis Sancinto then postponed the trial and set a plea conference for May 26 on all six related charges.
Public defenders H. Lee Wearing and Rodney Thompson pleaded the defendants not guilty, after which they were released on their own recognizance.
Peanut was wandering the streets near death last April, when workers spotted the starving, horribly injured animal behind Capital Health Systems at Mercer.
Nurse Dawn Tucker lured him into her car with peanut butter cookies.
Peanut was treated at a 24-hour emergency animal hospital in Langhorne, Pa., and readers sent in $12,000 to pay for his recovery.
The dog lives the good life now with his adopted owners, Amy and Sebastian Musumeci of Coatesville, Pa.
Amy Musumeci was in court, watching as the indignant Goldman "represented" her dog.
"For an animal that was blistered and bloody and crying in pain like this animal," Goldman said later, "and you do nothing about it -- that’s a pretty nasty crime."
"The SPCA is looking to put some people in jail here," he said. "This is outrageous."
Goldman said the couple -- which was in the process of moving -- admit owning the dog on the day it was picked up.
"And I want to prove that dog was blistered and burnt and suffering for days before they moved out," he said.
Phone calls to the public defenders were not returned yesterday.
"Crimes like this are not just crimes against an animal," said Goldman. "These are crimes against society. These are crimes against anybody that’s decent. That’s what this comes down to. This is not just a crime against this one poor animal."
The dog’s ordeal drew the attention of the media, as Channel 10 TV News showed up at the court appearance.
"Who called all this publicity?" one of the public defenders said, according to Goldman.
"I said, ‘Don’t look at me; I’m just here doing my job,’" Goldman said.
"He (the public defender) goes, ‘We have crime here, people being stabbed, people being cut with knives and razors, and they’re (the media) not here for that.’ He said, ‘What’s the big deal about this? This is a dog here,’ " Goldman recalled.
"I said, ‘Look, this is your town. When people see this going on in their town, they’re not comfortable. They don’t feel safe. They don’t like it. And I’m here to speak for this animal. So don’t worry about the television, don’t worry about the press. Let’s get to the case here.’"
The three SPCA charges could bring sentences of six months in jail, from $250 to $1,000 fine, and up to 30 days in jail upon conviction, he said.
Prosecuting for the city is Bob Yostembski. Appearing for the Bureau of Animal Control was supervisor Bryain Jenkins and Eric Maldonado, manager of the Trenton Animal Shelter.
The three city charges on each defendant are cruelty that caused an injury (a $2,500 fine and up to six month in jail), cruelty in general for not providing veterinary care (a fine of up to $1,000, and up to six months), and abandoning a domestic animal, a $250 fine.
