Most of the charges against a Springdale man previously accused of abusing two dogs and running a marijuana operation have been dropped after he agreed to a negotiated guilty plea.
Joshua Pawlak, 36, was sentenced to a year of probation by Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski after he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia, neglect of animals and driving without a license.
Springdale Police had been called to Pawlak’s home last July, according to a criminal complaint filed against him, because of a tip that claimed his two dogs were never let out of the house to relieve themselves and one had been “howling as if something was wrong.”
When officers arrived, police said they found the house in “deplorable” condition and sought a search warrant to return, the complaint said.
Upon entering the house, police said, they smelled a “pungent odor of ammonia and feces.” Officers said they found two dogs locked in cages without food or water in the front room of the residence. Both dogs were covered in urine, feces and fleas, according to the complaint.
After searching the house, police said they also found about 33 pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed bags, hundreds of rolled joints, more than 130 THC vape pens and two pounds of THC wax, according to the complaint.
The most serious charges against Pawlak — including felony aggravated cruelty to animals; and manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver — were withdrawn. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor and summary offenses.
Springdale Police previously charged Pawlak with resisting and evading arrest after a separate complaint said he had run from police after they attempted to arrest him during an appointment to sign over control of his dogs last August.
The chase ended with police using a Taser on Pawlak after a tussle on the ground, according to the complaint.
Those charges appear to have been reduced to a summary disorderly conduct charge, to which Pawlak pleaded guilty last year.
William Difenderfer, who represented Pawlak in Allegheny County court, did not immediately respond to a TribLive request for comment.
Duke George Jr., who previously represented Pawlak, said the guilty plea seemed to be a positive result for his client.
“That’s a pretty good deal under the circumstances,” George said.
