BLOUNTVILLE — A pair of officers with Sullivan County/Bluff City/Kingsport Animal Control have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of cruelty to animals and are scheduled for a Sept. 18 trial.

The trial date for Stephen F. Ward, 51, of 485 Hood Road, Kingsport, and Aaron Douglas West, 30, of 251 Heyford Drive, Bristol, Tenn., was set Friday morning after both were arraigned and pleaded not guilty to their charges in Sullivan County Criminal Court.

According to sealed indictments returned March 20 by a Sullivan County grand jury, Ward and West, "unlawfully, intentionally, knowingly and unreasonably" failed to provide care for animals in their custody.