YOUNGSTOWN — Gary L. Smith Jr., 41, of North Benton could be looking at years in prison after a Mahoning County grand jury indicted him Thursday on four felony animal cruelty charges, two of them with specifications alleging he used a gun.

The charges stem from an investigation by Animal Charity last month that uncovered a grave with animals in it and four live dogs not in good condition. Smith is also charged with two misdemeanor charges of attempted animal cruelty.

Mary Louk, executive director of Animal Charity, said an investigation indicated that dead animals were found in a grave at a home in Smith Township, leading to an investigation that showed the person who killed the animals did it out of spite as part of a domestic situation.

All of the dogs in Smith’s indictment are American Bulldogs. The indictments say the offenses against the dogs occurred Jan. 15-25. Each of the felony offenses carry a possible prison sentence of one year, but if Smith were convicted of the charge and a gun specification, that would add three years to his sentence.