Court Date Set for Loudonville Dog Breeder Following Arrest
Daniel Miller faces misdemeanor falsification and obstructing-official-business charges
ASHLAND, Ohio — An arraignment and pretrial hearing have been scheduled for a Loudonville-area dog breeder charged following an investigation that resulted in the removal of 72 dogs and puppies.
Daniel A. Miller, 64, is scheduled to appear before Judge John L. Good in Ashland Municipal Court at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, according to court records.
Miller is represented by Wooster attorney Patrick L. Brown.
Two Misdemeanor Charges Pending
Court records show Miller faces the following charges:
Falsification to mislead a public official, a first-degree misdemeanor under Ohio Revised Code 2921.13(A)(3).
Obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor under Ohio Revised Code 2921.31(A).
Both alleged offenses occurred Aug. 27 and were filed by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office. The cases were formally filed Aug. 31 and remain pending.
A first-degree misdemeanor in Ohio can carry a maximum sentence of 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. A second-degree misdemeanor can carry up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $750.
Bond Posted
According to the court docket, Mahlou Hochstetler posted a 10% cash bond for Miller on Aug. 31. The docket lists the bond amount as $854 and indicates a recognizance form was signed and filed.
A separate payment entry lists a completed payment of $554. Court records currently show no outstanding balance.
Charges Follow Dog-Breeding Investigation
Miller was arrested at his property at 362 County Road 2575 near Loudonville during an investigation involving the Sheriff’s Office and representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Humane Society of Ashland County Director Tiffany Meyer previously said the organization helped rescue 50 adult dogs and 22 puppies from the large-volume breeding operation.
Video released by the Sheriff’s Office shows officials alleging that additional dogs were concealed from inspectors in wooded and overgrown areas of the property. Officials can also be heard discussing possible criminal charges and the need to compare the dogs found with Miller’s records.
Miller later posted his account of the investigation on Facebook. He denied intentionally hiding dogs or lying to authorities and alleged that investigators pressured him into surrendering the animals.
The property has previously been associated with businesses identified as Happy Mountain K9 Facilities, Happy Mountain Canine Facilities and Puppys R Us.
Miller’s next hearing will be held at Ashland Municipal Court, 1209 E. Main St. in Ashland.
The charges are accusations. Miller is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
