The new trial date for a Brookhaven man accused of beating a cat to death at an animal shelter has been set for Aug. 16.

A trial date for Jody Cothron, 39, of 2306 Barfoot Circle, was originally scheduled for June 28, but the trial was postponed after Cothron claimed he did not have representation, according to Brookhaven Animal Rescue League President Lu Becker.

Municipal court clerks said no defense attorney has yet filed notice that they will be defending Cothron.

Cothron was charged in April with aggravated animal cruelty after he was alleged to have beaten a cat during a visit to the BARL shelter. The cat was taken to a veterinarian, where it later died.

BARL members allege that Cothron entered the facility around noon and asked to see the cats. Normally, a caregiver would be present to supervise, but staff reports they had left the building temporarily to capture a dog that had gotten loose.

When a caregiver later entered the cat room, she found blood splattered around the room and a plastic stick was in pieces from where the man allegedly hit the cat, Becker said. BARL took the cat to a veterinarian, where it later died. The veterinarian believes the cat was stomped during the incident, she said.

Becker said Cothron had no prior connection to the facility.

Mississippi law has two categories of animal cruelty — simple and aggravated. Both are misdemeanors with maximum penalties of six months in jail. The lesser charge carries a maximum $1,000 fine; aggravated animal cruelty carries a maximum fine of $2,500. A second or subsequent aggravated charge within five years is a felony with harsher penalties.

BARL members have asked for harsher penalties following the incident.