Case Snapshot
Case ID: 18052
Classification: Mutilation/Torture
Animal: cat
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Drugs or alcohol involved
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Friday, Mar 4, 2011

County: Prince William

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Robert Marion Mcguire

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A 31-year-old Dale City man has been charged with animal cruelty after police said he cut the head off a cat during a family argument.

Robert Marion McGuire, of the 4500 block of Dale Boulevard, was charged with torturing an animal, causing its death.

McGuire's case was to go before a grand jury in Prince William Circuit Court this week, but he waived his right to the grand jury hearing and is set to enter a guilty plea in August.

According to court documents, police responded to the house in the 4500 block of Dale Boulevard on March 4 to investigate reports that McGuire was "causing problems at his mother's residence and was refusing to leave."

When police arrived, witnesses "accused Mr. McGuire of cutting the head off the family cat," the court documents state.

McGuire, a registered sex offender in Virginia, was taken to an area hospital with a cut to the head, which he later told police he inflicted himself, the court documents state.

According to the court documents, police asked McGuire if he cut the head off the cat and he "nodded his head indicating yes" and later stated he killed the cat.

Police said there were scratches on McGuire's hands "that may have been caused by a defensive animal."

McGuire is charged with a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.

He was released on his own recognizance and is set to enter a plea to the charge on Aug. 25.

McGuire has a long list of criminal convictions, including the abduction of a minor in 2002, which landed him on the Virginia Sex Offender Registry. In Prince William County, convictions include impersonating a police officer, animal cruelty, public intoxication, possession of marijuana, drunken driving and failing to register as a sex offender, according to court records.


Case Updates

He's got a long rap sheet, including sex offenses, and now neighbors are furious that a judge let Robert McGuire out of jail after he allegedly cut the head off his mother's cat.

McGuire has a long history of trouble with the law: abduction, failing to register as a sex offender, assault, impersonating a police officer -- and now this horrible case of alleged animal cruelty.

The family has moved out of the house and it's now up for sale.
But investigators say it's at 4515 Dale Blvd that Robert McGuire allegedly got in an argument with his mother, grabbed the family cat, and beheaded it.

"Did he hold it down, the cat squirming all around, while he cut its head off? It doesn't make any sense," says neighbor Dave Walter, who says he's had nightmares since he found out. The cat used to play with his cat. "It's name was Mr Winkles."

When police found him, McGuire had a sharp cut across his forehead. He allegedly told police he'd consumed "a lot of cocaine and alcohol" and was "going a little crazy.
He allegedly admitted he cut himself for attention.... and investigators say he also told them the multiple wounds on his hand were from the cat trying to save itself.

"If he could do that to the family cat, what do you think he could do?" asks neighbor Janet Walter.

The Prince William County Commonwealth's Attorney says his prosecutor asked the judge to hold McGuire. But the judge apparently thought he was neither a flight risk nor a threat to the community, and ordered him released with just a promise that if he failed to appear for his next hearing, he would have to pay $5,000.

"I think it's lousy, he should be in jail." says Dave Walter.

The Walters were the only neighbors willing to appear on camera. But they were far from alone in thinking McGuire should have stayed in custody.

The judge says McGuire's slated to enter a guilty plea on August 25th. He faces up to five years in prison.
Source: wusa9.com - Jun 9, 2011
Update posted on Jun 10, 2011 - 12:12AM 

References

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