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Case #4324 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Kittens beaten to death
Reading, PA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Apr 9, 2005
County: Berks
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Henry L. Stetler
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Reading police are investigating a report of animal cruelty after a patrolman found two dead kittens on Clover Street. A man had flagged down Patrolman Darren C. Smith on Saturday afternoon in the 1100 block of Moss Street and reported seeing another man beat three kittens and throw them from a fourth-floor window inside a building in which the men were working, investigators said.
Smith said he found two kittens dead behind the building on Clover Street, which is parallel to Moss. The third kitten was not found, he said.
Investigators did not disclose the names of the men or information about their work. The building is a former textile mill that encompasses the entire block.
Smith said the man who reported the incident told him he had initially gone home after seeing the cats beaten, then returned a few hours later to look for the animals.
Smith said the man flagged him down when he couldn't find the cats.
"The man debated if he should say anything," Smith said. "He was worried about losing his job."
The Berks County Humane Society announced its support to police for charging Stetler.
"We are pleased that the Reading police have once again recognized the serious nature of such outrageous acts of animal cruelty and have chosen to deal with it in the severest possible manner," said Humane Society Executive Director Karel I. Minor. "Because Pennsylvania law does not permit the Humane Society to file our charges directly in cases involving misdemeanors or felonies, we are gratified that the police and district attorney's office have chosen to take this crime seriously and prosecute it vigorously."
Case UpdatesA man who beat three kittens and threw them out a fourth-floor window avoided prison time and was sentenced to two years' probation. Henry L. Stetler, 59, of Douglass Township, told Berks County Judge Jeffrey K. Sprecher February 10, 2006 that he could not explain why he killed the animals. "I don't know that it's the court's job to understand what happened because this court deals with many people from all walks of life and many backgrounds," Sprecher said. "I believe the punishment should fit the crime. I believe in this case it does." Sprecher also fined Stetler $3,000 and ordered him to perform 24 hours of community service. Assistant District Attorney Colleen Dugan had asked Sprecher to sentence Stetler to three months to six years in prison.
Stetler's attorney, Michael Dautrich, provided letters from Stetler's supporters, who said he was a model citizen who volunteered in the community. The judge said those letters and Stetler's lack of a criminal record showed he was unlikely to repeat his behavior.
But Karel Minor, executive director of the Humane Society of Berks County, said the sentence was too light. "Teenagers get more time for petty vandalism than Stetler received today in court," she said in a statement after the sentencing.
Stetler was working in a vacant textile mill on April 9, 2005 when he found the kittens. He used a metal rod to beat the animals, then walked to an open window and tossed out the bodies, according to court records. Authorities later found two of the dead kittens, but the third was never located. | Source: ABC6 News - February 16, 2006
Update posted on Mar 15, 2006 - 4:10PM |
A Douglass Township man was arrested Thursday on a charge he clubbed three 4-week-old kittens to death, then threw them out a fourth-story window in a former textile mill in Reading.
Henry L. Stetler, 69, of the 800 block of Englesville Hill Road was arraigned before District Judge Thomas H. Xavios on a charge of cruelty to animals. Stetler remained free awaiting further court action.
Stetler struck three kittens with a metal pipe Saturday in the building in the 1100 block of Moss Street and threw them out the window, police said.
Police previously said the kittens were thrown from a third-floor window.
Two of the dead kittens were found, but the third was not, police said.
Stetler could not be reached for comment.
Karel I. Minor, executive director of the Humane Society of Berks County Inc., 1801 N. 11th St., said he was glad police charged Stetler with the misdemeanor charge.
He said police typically issue just a citation or a summary charge in such cases.
"I'm pleased he got the most serious possible charge," Minor said. "The Humane Society is pleased the police and district attorney's office have chosen to take a case of animal cruelty this serious."
Police gave the following account:
Stetler, who owns the building, and a worker, Scott Church, 21, Barto, were renovating the building about 12:30 p.m. when Church heard Stetler complain about finding a litter of kittens.
Church saw Stetler club a kitten, and Church walked out of the room. Church came back moments later and saw Stetler throw the kittens out the window.
The mother cat returned during the beatings, and the mother cat and a fourth kitten got away from Stetler.
The men left the building, but Church went back about 8 p.m.
"He felt bad, he was looking for the cats," said Lt. Albert E. Evans, a patrol division supervisor. "He saw the police car drive by and he stopped him."
Church flagged down Patrolman Darren C. Smith and reported the beatings. Smith said he found two dead kittens near the building on Clover Street. | Source: Reading Eagle - April 15, 2005
Update posted on Apr 15, 2005 - 8:26AM |
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