Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon announced today that two people have been arraigned for setting fire to their dog after having left the animal at home alone for nearly two weeks.

Christopher Maxwell, 34, was arraigned on a six-count indictment that charges him with Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (an E felony), Overdriving, Torturing, Injuring and Not Feeding an Animal, Arson in the Fifth Degree, Criminal Mischief with Intent to Damage Property, and two counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence.

Latisha Ellis, 32, was arraigned on an indictment that charges her with Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and two counts of Overdriving, Torturing, Injuring and Not Feeding an Animal.

The pair were arraigned in front of the Honorable William Little in Albany County Court Wednesday and both pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Both were released under the supervision of probation and with an order prohibiting them from possessing any animals. Maxwell, who was also ordered to wear an ankle monitor, could face up to four years in state prison if convicted, while Ellis faces up to a two-year local jail stint.

Albany Police were alerted on Feb. 24 concerning a dead 1-year-old mixed breed pit bull inside a crate in a parking lot near Fourth Avenue and Franklin Street. The crate had been set on fire.

The case is being prosecuted by Jacob Sheingold of the Special Victims Unit.

ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.