BRONX MAN FACING NINE MONTHS IN JAIL FOR BRUTALIZING A SIX MONTH OLD KITTEN

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 32 year old parolee is facing a nine month jail sentence for administering a brutal beating to a six month old kitten.

Robert Cabassa, of 693 East 189th Street, the Bronx, pled guilty to one count of Torturing and Injuring Animals. The kitten survived but suffered a fractured eye socket, missing and fractured teeth, and singed whiskers. Cabassa said he became enraged because he thought the kitten had urinated on his computer.

Acting State Supreme Court Justice John Byrne set sentencing for Tuesday, May 31, 2005 in Part A. Cabassa’s arrest on the animal cruelty charge violated the terms of his parole. As a result Cabassa has to serve the remaining five months on a sentence of one and a half to three years imprisonment for a forgery conviction in Dutchess County, New York. The sentences will run concurrent. In addition to the nine months in jail for animal cruelty, Cabassa also is prohibited from owning a pet for five years.

Assistant District Attorney Kiran Vashista is prosecuting the case.