Two Nevada men facing federal charges in connection with the shooting deaths of five Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustangs at the Buckhorn Management Area in November pleaded not guilty to the charges during an appearance in U.S. District Court in Reno, Nev., on April 27.

BLM helicopter pilots discovered the animals' carcasses in December during a scheduled roundup of mustangs from a remote range along the Nevada-California border. Federal authorities later charged Todd Davis and Joshua Keathley with maliciously causing the death and harassment of free-roaming horses by shooting them. If convicted, each could face up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Both men are free on personal recognizance bond. A trial is set for June 22. Keathley's attorney, John Springgate, declined comment on the case. Davis' attorney, Todd Plimpton, was unavailable for comment.