Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Cat dragged to death behind car

Cat dragged to death behind car
Phoenix, AZ (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, May 14, 2005
County: Maricopa
Local Map: available
Disposition: Dismissed

Persons of Interest:
» Jason Christopher Cavalera
» Randall Lee Olney
» Rhys Earle Saxton

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

Case ID: 4590

Classification: Vehicular

Animal: cat

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Drugs or alcohol involved

Three 18-year-olds thought it would be funny to drag a cat from a rope while speeding down Arizona 51, authorities stated.

They thought it would be a prank like the ones acted out on the MTV show Jackass, and they wanted to see other drivers' reactions. One of them figured if they got caught they would just get a ticket for littering.

But they got the wrong audience: an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer.

The officer booked Phoenix residents Jason Cavalera, the driver, Randall Olney, and Rhys Saxton May 14, 2005 into the Madison Street Jail on a suspicion of animal cruelty charge, a Class 6 felony.

Around 4:20 a.m., DPS Officer Jason Lenhardt saw a blue Mazda traveling about 80 miles per hour southbound on Arizona 51 with a black-and-white object on a rope out of a window, bouncing along the highway.

When the officer pulled the car over, the suspects told the officer they had smoked marijuana around 2 a.m. and later decided to drag a cat from the car. They found a cat around 28th Street and Sweetwater Avenue that they believed was dead, Lenhardt said.

Lenhardt found the cat bleeding and dead in the middle of the highway.

A necropsy performed on the cat determined it was probably a pet and was alive when it was dragged.

Case Updates

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the men who admit to dragging a cat from a car along a highway won't face animal-cruelty charges. At issue is whether the cat was alive when she was dragged by defendants Rhys Saxton, 19; Jason Cavalera, 19; and Randall Olney, 18.

Saxton and Cavalera today pled guilty to a Class 6 felony drug charge as part of an agreement with the Maricopa County Attorney's Office. As part of the deal, the two will not face animal-cruelty charges. A bench warrant was issued for Olney. Neither Olney nor his attorney appeared for this morning's scheduled court appearance.

"If the cat was already dead when they bound and dragged her, then the animal-cruelty charges won't stand up in court. We are not happy, but we understand that the county attorney's office can't proceed with prosecution if they truly believe a conviction is not possible," said AHS spokeswoman Kim Noetzel. "Nonetheless, this case remains intensely horrifying on many levels. We are shocked and disgusted that anyone - let alone three grown men - could find humor in dragging any animal, dead or alive, from a moving vehicle.

"It's our opinion that Saxton, Cavalera and Olney have exhibited extremely depraved, pathetic and immature behavior," Noetzel continued. "We think they should be ashamed of, and even concerned by, their own actions. Just imagine the mindset of three men who take pleasure in desecrating the body of another being, alive or dead. It's downright scary."

Cavalera and Saxton will be sentenced on January 13, 2006. According to the plea deal, each could receive up to three years supervised probation; 180 hours of community service; a $750 fine; and must undergo drug treatment. Although the animal-cruelty charges were dismissed, they must also undergo a psychiatric evaluation and, while on probation, may not own, possess or control any animals with the exception of the pets their families currently have.

A state Department of Public Safety officer arrested the trio on May 14, 2005, after he observed them dragging an object from a car while speeding down State Route 51 near Northern Avenue. The officer discovered that the object was, in fact, a female cat; further, he reportedly found illegal drugs in the car. Saxton, Cavalera and Olney were arrested and charged with one count of animal cruelty, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, all felonies.

However, attorneys for the defendants have produced a witness who claims she killed the cat before Saxton, Cavalera and Olney found it. Danielle Rose Trunzo, 18, of Phoenix, told investigators that she hit the cat with her car and left it for dead in the road.

In addition, the defense secured a forensic pathologist who was prepared to testify that the cat was dead before the defendants found her. That testimony would have contradicted the necropsy findings of an AHS veterinarian who said that bruising and other injuries to the cat's body indicate she was alive when she was dragged.

The cat, 2-year-old "Oreo," was the pet of Nick and Donna Mariani and their 7-year-old daughter. At the time of the alleged crime, the family lived just doors away from the defendants near 28th Street and Sweetwater Drive.

"We support our veterinarian's contention that 'Oreo' was alive," Noetzel said. "He discovered ligature marks on her neck where she'd been bound with shoelaces by the defendants, as well as other bruising on her body, that he believes would not have occurred if she was dead when they bound and dragged her. To date, he is the only medical professional who has examined the body and we trust his findings."
Unfortunately, Noetzel said, the testimony of a veterinarian is not deemed as credible as that of a Board-certified forensic pathologist in the eyes of the court.

"For us the issue is not whether or not the cat was alive," she said. "It's about proving the cat was alive. If the prosecution feels they cannot make the case, then the charges are dropped. It's a sad and unfortunate ending to this awful case. However, we do appreciate the time and effort that the county attorney's office has put into this matter. We know that making the decision to drop the animal-cruelty charges was very difficult for them."

Source: Arizona Humane Society - Dec 14, 2005
Update posted on Dec 14, 2005 - 1:02PM

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Each is also charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, also class six felonies. Next court date is set: Trial on December 21, 2005 with Judge Burke.

Update posted on Nov 23, 2005 - 2:03PM

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Three young men accused of felony animal cruelty for dragging a cat on a north Phoenix freeway will stand trial. During a preliminary hearing in Maricopa County Superior Court, all three claimed the animal was already dead and the law doesn't apply.

D-P-S Officer Jason Lenthardt testified he stopped the driver and his passengers on State Route 51 in early May doing 80 with an object being dragged by a rope.

They claimed they found the cat on a residential street and it was dead.

Their lawyers say they'll call witnesses including a woman who says she accidentally hit the cat named "Oreo."

Defense attorneys contend the animal cruelty statute only applies to living creatures.

Eighteen-year-olds, Jason Cavalera and his passengers, Randall Olney and Rhys (reese) Stanton also face marijuana possession charges.

Source: KPHO - Aug 19, 2005
Update posted on Aug 21, 2005 - 2:31PM

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Rhys Earle Saxton, Randall Lee Olney and Jason Christopher Cavalera, all 18, were indicted on charges of animal cruelty and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The men are free while awaiting their next court appearance on August 17th.

Source: KVOA - June 17, 2005
Update posted on Jun 27, 2005 - 6:04PM

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An initial appearance date has been set for June 27, 2005

Source: Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County
Update posted on Jun 2, 2005 - 10:35PM

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The three Phoenix men accused of dragging a pet cat to death along State Route 51 on May 14th have been indicted on felony animal cruelty and drug charges. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced the charges against Rhys Earle Saxton, Randall Lee Olney and Jason Christopher Cavalera.

During a newsconference on May 24, Thomas told reporters animal cruelty is not a joke or a prank. He says it's a serious crime that causes needless pain and suffering to an animal.

The pet in this case was a little girl's cat named Oreo.

Source: KPHO - May 24, 2005
Update posted on May 25, 2005 - 12:18AM

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References

	The Arizona Republic - May 15, 2005
	AZ Humane Society - May 24, 2005
	Case #: CR2005-009758

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Cat dragged to death behind carPhoenix, AZ (US)

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Cat dragged to death behind car
Phoenix, AZ (US)