Ronnie L. Denney was found not guilty of animal cruelty charges in Covington County District Court Monday.

Defense attorney Bart Boothe said Judge Frank “Trippy” McGuire heard testimony from a sheriff’s deputy and from Tony Pettus, who originally made the complaint of animal cruelty against Denney.

Law enforcement filed the charges against Denney after being called to the property on which he was running a non-profit organization called SAFE, or Save Animals from Euthanasia. Investigators said they found what appeared to be the remains of four dogs and one cat on the property.

“I called Dr. Lewis Jones, who is familiar with SAFE and Denney,” Boothe said. “He testified about the health of the dogs. His records made him a major part of the case.”

The defense also called witnesses who had helped care for the animals when Denney was away.