A Cape Girardeau man pleaded guilty on Aug 8, 2005�to torturing and killing a cat, marking the first local felony animal cruelty conviction, Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said.
Eric Lee Ford, 45, of 259 N. Park Ave., entered the plea in Mississippi County, where his case was moved on a change of venue.
In his plea, Swingle said, Ford admitted taking the cat owned by Camilla Coy and squeezing it, throwing it against a wall and then stomping on it. The incident occurred Aug. 14, 2004.
The charge reflects the cruelty of Ford's action, Swingle said. Normally animal cruelty is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony when the act involves torture or mutilation of the animal while it is alive, Swingle said.
Most animal cruelty convictions carry a maximum of one year in a county jail. The charge against Ford carries a maximum of four years in prison but Swingle said his office is recommending supervised probation for Ford.
Sentencing is set for Sept. 13. Case UpdatesAn admitted cat killer was sentenced Thursday to two years probation and 100 hours of community service at a humane center.
Eric L. Ford, 45, of Tamms, Ill., pleaded guilty to felony animal abuse and received the sentence from New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland.
On Aug. 14, 2004, Ford's ex-girlfriend was moving out of the Cape Girardeau home they had shared. Ford picked up the woman's cat, said, "This is what I think of our love," and threw the animal against a wall, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jack Koester said.
Ford had previously pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors last year that would give him probation. But when Mississippi County Judge David Dolan said he would not impose probation, Ford withdrew the plea.
In court Thursday, Ford pleaded guilty without such a deal, Koester said, adding prosecutors had recommended 60 days in the county jail.
According to court records, Ford was ordered to fulfill the community service hours at the Cape Girardeau Humane Society within four months.
Ford could have faced up to one year in the county jail or fours years in state prison. | Source: seMissourian - April 14, 2006
Update posted on Apr 17, 2006 - 7:09PM |
A Cape Girardeau man accused of killing a cat faces an April trial on felony animal abuse charges.
Eric L. Ford, 45, appeared Thursday before New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland, who ordered a one-day trial on April 13.
Ford withdrew a guilty plea in October after Circuit Judge David Dolan rejected probation in the case and said he would impose prison time for the Aug. 14, 2004, incident.
Ford is accused of taking a cat owned by Camilla Coy of Cape Girardeau and squeezing it, throwing it against a wall and stomping on it.
The case is before Copeland on a change of venue, the second to be ordered for Ford. His trial was originally moved from Cape Girardeau County to Mississippi County during 2005. | Source: seMissourian - Feb 1, 2006
Update posted on Feb 1, 2006 - 1:05PM |
A Cape Girardeau man withdrew his guilty plea for animal cruelty when faced with prison time. Eric L. Ford, 45, of 259 N. Park Ave., withdrew the plea last week and entered a plea of not guilty to the felony. Ford also asked for a new judge in the case to replace Circuit Judge David Dolan, who was ready to send Ford to prison.
The case was moved to Mississippi County on a change of venue. In a plea bargain, Ford agreed to plead guilty in exchange for probation. Cape Girardeau County prosecutor Morley Swingle has said his office was ready to recommend up to 60 days shock incarceration before Ford could begin probation.
But on Sept. 13, Dolan rejected probation because of findings in a pre-sentence investigation.
Under Missouri court rules, if a judge rejects a plea agreement, the plea can be withdrawn.
No more action will take place in the case until a new judge is assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court. | Source: Semissourian - Oct 21, 2005
Update posted on Oct 24, 2005 - 6:35PM |
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