The owner of a Sussex County petting zoo has been indicted on several animal cruelty charges.

Authorities say that more than 30 pigs were discovered dead and other animals were found sick or injured last summer at Sugar Sweet Farms in Andover Township.

Owner Dennis Sugar, 47, was due to be arraigned on the charges last week, but that hearing was rescheduled when Sugar told the judge he planned to hire a new attorney.

Sugar has said he plans to plead not guilty but has declined to discuss the matter at length.