Jury selection starts Wednesday for brothers accused of setting fire to pit bull

Jury selection will begin Wednesday for the firearms possession trial of twin brothers accused of setting fire to a pit bull in May.

Travers and Tremayne Johnson, both 18, and their father, Charles Johnson, 76, were charged in June with possession of firearms and marijuana. Police say the drugs and weapons were found that month in a raid of the Johnsons' South Pulaski Street home while investigating the dog burning.

Prosecutors plan to handle the firearm case before the animal cruelty charges, which drew nationwide attention.

The brothers were indicted by a Baltimore grand jury in November on aggravated animal abuse charges. The two pleaded not guilty in December to burning the dog, named Phoenix by rescuers. Workers ultimately had to euthanize the dog, which had burns over more than 95 percent of its body.