AUBURN — A Willow Street man accused of leaving a starving dog in a closet has been indicted on a charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Charles Palmer, 30, of 15 Willow St., was indicted Wednesday by an Androscoggin County grand jury.

In early June, Animal Control Officer Wendell Strout was sent to Willow Street to investigate a report of a sick dog  that was not being properly cared for.

Strout went to Willow Street on June 4 and spoke with neighbors. One of the neighbors had the dog, which Strout described as a Labrador-shepherd mix.

"The dog was barely alive," said Deputy Chief Jason Moen of the Auburn Police Department. "He had apparently been keeping it in a closet because he didn't know what to do with it."

The dog was taken to Lewiston for medical treatment. However, the animal's condition was so dire that it had to be euthanized.

According to Strout, the dog was six to eight months old and should have weighed 40 pounds. It weighed about 15 pounds. It was emaciated from dehydration and malnutrition, Strout said.

Palmer was also indicted Wednesday on unrelated charges of burglary, criminal mischief and violating conditions of release.

According to the indictment, Palmer entered the home of an Auburn man June 12 and destroyed property. After he was arrested on those charges, Palmer was taken to the Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn where he has since remained.