The former manager of a Waimanalo dog-breeding business pleaded not guilty Thursday to 153 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and asked for a jury trial.
David Lee Becker has been held on $200,000 bail since he was extradited to Honolulu from Las Vegas on June 18.
Becker had not entered a plea until Thursday because two court-appointed public defender attorneys sought more time to review the evidence and prepare for his defense. Becker’s lawyers have said there are at least 2,000 pages of evidence and photos.
Kaneohe District Judge Phil Doi sent the case to Circuit Judge Richard Perkins for an Aug. 23 hearing.
Becker, 37, dressed in a dark T-shirt and shorts, did not speak during the brief hearing Thursday.
If convicted, he could be fined as much as $306,000 and spend up to a year in jail.
Becker was charged May 26, 2011, but left for Nevada before he could be served with the criminal complaint.
He was detained June 8 in Las Vegas after the Hawaiian Humane Society found Becker and gave the information to the Honolulu prosecutor’s office, which obtained a special gubernatorial warrant for his arrest.
The Hawaiian Humane Society and the Honolulu police seized 153 dogs on Feb. 28, 2010, from Bradley International, Becker’s employer.
Bradley International pleaded no contest in December 2010 to the 153 counts of animal cruelty. However, none of the $370,701 in restitution, $306,000 in fines and $8,415 in court fees has been paid because the company has gone out of business.
According to state business records, the chief executive and director of the company is Shannon Luke, the president and secretary is Becker and the treasurer is Vernon Luke.
