Shot and killed 2 cats
Frederick, MD (US)Date: Oct 1, 2000
Disposition: Acquitted
Person of Interest: Eric Grossnickle
|
|
Eric Grossnickle, a landlord who shot and killed two cats after a tenant refused to get rid of them was acquitted of felony charges, the first court test of a new Maryland new designed to stiffen penalties for animal cruelty.
A judge ruled that he destroyed the cats in a legally acceptable manner when he blasted them with a 12-gauge shotgun.
"I don't like what he did, but it's not a crime under Maryland law," Circuit Judge Mary Stepler said on Wednesday.
Grossnickle was also acquitted of theft, but convicted on two counts of malicious destruction of property, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Grossnickle did not deny shooting the cats, which were killed Oct. 1, the same day the animal cruelty law took effect. According to court testimony, he told Ritch five times to get rid of the cats or he would do it for her because they were reducing the home's value by damaging the walls and carpets.
Although the state prohibits inflicting unnecessary pain and suffering on animals, it allows killing them humanely for food processing, hunting, scientific research, pest control, and agricultural practices.
Since Grossnickle killed the cats quickly, using a method accepted by farmers and with no intention of causing them unnecessary suffering, he did not break the law, Stepler said.
Laura Corbett, Assistant State's Attorney, said the cats were "unnecessarily, unjustifiably and, therefore, cruelly killed."
Court rules prohibit the state from appealing Stepler's verdict. The judge said sentencing would be in six weeks but did not specify a date.
The animal cruelty law made deliberate acts of torture and mutilation of animals a felony instead of a misdemeanor, carrying a maximum jail term of three years.
References« Back to Search Results Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges. For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.
|
