Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Laina Fetherolf |
Cat stolen, mutilated, organs used as fishing bait
Logan, OH (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Nov 3, 2009
County: Hocking
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: Bryan Able
A prosecutor expressed frustration Thursday at not being able to file tougher charges against a college student accused in a heinous case of animal cruelty.
According to prosecutors, the student killed and mutilated a stranger's house cat, then used the animal's organs as fishing bait, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.
Humane Society agent Saundra Harvey called it the worst case of animal abuse she has ever seen.
"He went to a home, went up on the porch, picked up a cat, took it to his pickup truck, threw it on the ground," Harvey said. "The cat was meowing; he stomped its head, proceeded to disembowel it, took its liver and went fishing with it."
The accused, Bryan Able, 18, is a law enforcement student at Hocking College, McEntyre reported.
Investigators say after Able finished fishing, he drove to the college campus and put the cat's remains on the hood of another student's car.
Hocking County Prosecutor Laina Fetherolf said the toughest charge she can file against Able is misdemeanor animal cruelty.
"The second offense, were he to do something like this again, would be a felony," Fetherolf said. "But where does that leave us this time? And why do we have to let it happen again for it to be a more serious charge?"
Fetherolf said she would like to see Ohio lawmakers draft tougher laws to try and head off future crimes.
"Someone who could do something like this has the potential to be a very dangerous person," Fetherolf said. "The laws need to be changed accordingly."
10TV's attempts to reach Able for comment on Thursday were not successful.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison.
He is expected to face a judge on Monday.
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