Former Forest City Council Member’s Animal Cruelty Case Moves to Superior Court

The animal cruelty case against former Forest City Town Council member Justin Edward Conner has moved to Rutherford County Superior Court following grand jury indictments.

Conner was arrested on May 6 and charged with one felony count and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals following a Forest City Police Department investigation. Court records show indictments were issued July 15 and Aug. 17, according to case number 26CR300140-800. The felony charge indictment said, "maliciously kill an animal, a small brown dog, by intentionally depriving the animal of necessary sustenance."

Conner’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23 before Judge J. Thomas Davis. He remains free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, according to NC Judicial Branch eCourts records.

His ex-wife, Stacey Conner, faces two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and one local ordinance charge in a separate case stemming from the same investigation, according to case number 26CR300131-800.

Her next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 15. She was released on May 6 on a $3,000 unsecured bond, according to eCourts records.

Both cases remain pending, and the charges are allegations. The Forest City Police Department has not issued a statement about the case. 

Joey Brandle defeated Justin Conner in the 2024 election by 79 votes. Conner considered running for election again in 2026, but did not file to run during the July candidate filing period. He previously won election as town commissioner in 2019 and 2015.