Dennis Franks, one-time owner of the now closed Broc’s Puppies stores in South Lake Tahoe and Carson City, failed to appear for his June 6 arraignment in El Dorado County Superior Court.

A bench warrant has been issued and the case held over to June 23.

“If he fails to appear then, the warrant will go live,” Assistant District Attorney Hans Uthe told Lake Tahoe News.

Franks was supposed to originally appear in May, but at that time he told the court he had car trouble and could not make it.

Franks is charged with 65 felony counts of grand theft by false pretense, 27 felony counts of forgery, one felony count of grand theft and a slew of misdemeanor charges.

During the short time the South Lake Tahoe pet store was open numerous complaints were filed, Animal Control raided the shop, customers complained of buying sick dogs – some of which died, and others called it a puppy mill.

— Kathryn Reed