Ex-West Milford official pleads not guilty to killing baby birds, report says

The former director of public works for the township pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he killed two baby birds by spraying pesticide on their nest

A West Milford official has been fired over accusations that he killed two baby birds and destroyed an egg in a robin's nest. Pictured above, three young robins huddle in a nest--not those involved in the West Milford incident--and open their beaks for food as their mother flies nearby on June 21, 2004. (AP Photo/The Forum, Dave Wallis) 

WEST MILFORD -- The former director of public works for the township pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he killed two baby birds by spraying pesticide on their nest, The Record reported.

Gary A. Kraemer, the attorney for Carlos Luaces, said his client was innocent.

Luaces, of Byram, could face three to five years of prison each for the two most serious charges, knowingly poisoning an animal and knowingly poisoning an animal and causing death. He's due in Superior Court in Paterson on Thursday for a pre-indictment hearing.

He allegedly sprayed a robin's nest with pesticides in August, killing two chicks and destroying an egg. Mayor Bettina Bieri fired Luaces later in the month.

Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.