A Moundsville man accused of animal cruelty resulting in the death of four pit bulls is facing additional charges.

Late Thursday, Moundsville police charged Chester Chanze, 43, with three more counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty - bringing his total number of charges to four.

The charges are the result of an Oct. 23 investigation by police and animal control officers, in which it was discovered five pit bulls - one of them female - had been fighting each other constantly in Chester's Clinton Avenue home and had gruesome wounds as a result.

Moundsville police Officer Steve Oliver said the four male dogs had to be euthanized as a result of injuries they sustained. He said the dogs were covered in fleas and had various open wounds.

Photos show that, in addition to the wounds Oliver mentioned, the dogs had exposed, raw skin, injuries to their paws and were emaciated.

The female dog has been taken in by a Moundsville resident who is caring for her, Oliver said.

Chanze is free on $2,500 bond. If convicted, he could be sentenced to six months in prison and/or fined $300-$2,000 for each charge, according to West Virginia Code.