LOCK HAVEN — With the defense nearly prepared to rest its case on Friday afternoon, it appeared the jury trial for Robert Wallish, III was nearing deliberation. However, new court documents have indicated a mistrial in the case.

Wallish, of Hummelstown, was arrested in February 2025 and charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a third degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a second degree misdemeanor, following an investigation by Pennsylvania State Police. He is alleged to have shot his neighbor’s dog, an 11-year-old yellow lab mix, in the early morning hours of Dec. 16, 2024, in Westport and then taking the remains, disposing of them 150 miles away in Dauphin County.

A mistrial was declared, according to court documents, because the courthouse’s own facility dog met members of the jury.

Judge Michael Salisbury, who presided over the trial that began Thursday, said in court documents released Friday afternoon that “the introduction of the courthouse facility dog into the jury room during the lunch recess” lead to the mistrial.

According to Salisbury’s order, a new jury selection for Wallish’s trial is set to take place on Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m.

The court administrator’s office is expected to set aside three days for the trial in coordination with District Attorney Dave Strouse and Wallish’s council.

Wallish was represented by Attorney Sarah Lockwood, Esq., of JSDC Law Offices in Hershey, Pa. The commonwealth was represented by Strouse.