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Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Jon Tunheim | | Defense(s): | Patrick O’Connor | | Judge(s): | Lisa Sutton |
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Cat's head hacked off with dull machete
Olympia, WA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Nov 18, 2010
County: Thurston
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Dameon Ray Parker
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Animal Services officials say are horrified at how an Olympia man allegedly killed a neighbor's cat.
Dameon Ray Parker, 30, was charged with first-degree animal cruelty in Thurston County Superior Court after allegedly decapitating the cat with a machete, according to Animal Services Officer Erika Quinn.
According to court documents:
On Nov. 18, a woman observed Parker holding the cat by the nape of the neck as he took it to the backyard of the house where he lived. She saw Parker emerge from the yard minutes later holding a machete with fresh blood and cat hair on it. The witness, who later found the cat's headless body buried, told officers Parker admitted killing the cat, named Nokio Justis.
The next day, Animal Services, aided by Olympia police, served a search warrant at the residence, police spokesman Tor Bjornstad said.
Quinn took several items, including a machete, a railroad tie and the cat's head, according to court records. Parker admitted killing the cat in a shed, records show.
During the search, Olympia police also determined Parker was violating a no-contact order with a woman he was living with and arrested him. As of Tuesday, Parker was being held by Olympia police, Bjornstad said.
A necropsy showed that the cat was alive as it was beheaded, court records show. The lacerations "undeniably caused severe and extensive pain and resulted in death," documents state.
Animal Services learned of the alleged act after people who knew Parker forwarded messages to authorities found on his Facebook page saying what he had done, Animal Services director Susanne Beauregard said.
Quinn, who has investigated thousands of animal-cruelty cases in her nine years as as an investigator, says it has been years since she has seen something this brutal.
"It's one of the worst I've seen in my career when it comes to violent crime with an animal," she said.
Case UpdatesAn Olympia man could face nine months in jail after pleading guilty Thursday to a count of first-degree animal cruelty for beheading a neighbor's cat with a machete.
Dameon Ray Parker, 30, was arrested in late November after authorities received forwarded messages from Parker's Facebook page saying what he had done, according to Animal Services director Susanne Beauregard.
Parker's court-appointed attorney, Patrick O'Connor, said Thursday that Parker will enter an in-patient drug-treatment facility Tuesday. Thurston County Superior Court Judge Lisa Sutton set Parker's sentencing for July 26.
Prosecuting Attorney Jon Tunheim said he will recommend that Parker serve nine months in the Thurston County Jail. The standard sentencing range for the crime, a third-degree felony, is zero to 12 months.
Tunheim said that if Parker completes his 60-day drug-treatment program, he can shave the time that he spends there off his jail sentence.
According to court papers:
A woman observed Parker holding a cat by the nape of the neck Nov. 18 as he took it to his backyard on Fir Street. She later saw Parker emerge from the yard holding a machete with blood and cat hair on it.
The woman later found the cat's headless body buried. She said Parker admitted killing the cat, named Nokio Justis.
Animal Services and Olympia police later served a search warrant at Parker's residence and seized several items, including a machete, a railroad tie and the cat's head. Parker admitted killing the cat in a shed.
A necropsy showed the cat was alive as it was beheaded.
O'Connor said Thursday that Parker is extremely remorseful. He added that Parker's drug use likely influenced his actions and said he would elaborate during Parker's sentencing hearing.
Parker is in custody at the Olympia City Jail for an unrelated probation violation, O'Connor said.
Animal Services officials could not be reached for comment Thursday. | Source: theolympian.com - May 6, 2011
Update posted on May 8, 2011 - 4:36PM |
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