YOUNGSTOWN — Mechelle Kelly, 55, of Jacobs Road, was booked into and released from the Mahoning County jail on Thursday after failing to appear in court on Tuesday for arraignment on animal cruelty charges.

A bench warrant was issued for Kelly on Tuesday, which was repealed when she appeared in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court for arraignment Wednesday before Judge John Durkin. She was released on her own recognizance, which means Kelly has promised to appear in court at all other times she is summoned.

She was indicted June 16 on a charge of cruelty to companion animals, a fifth-degree felony. She is accused of dragging a chained dog down the street with her car May 29. Her trial date is set for Sept. 6. If convicted, she could face up to one year in prison.

The Youngstown Police Department and Animal Charity of Ohio were called to Jacobs Road on May 29 after a witness reported seeing Kelly dragging a mixed-breed dog behind her car for about 100 yards at 35 mph. The dog was then chained up in the backyard. Reports stated the dog was being punished for breaking loose from its chain.

According to Animal Charity, the black-and-white dog, named Oreo, was missing all of her nails on one foot, had several broken toes and had serious abrasions on all of her legs, stomach and lower jaw.