BRONX MAN FOUND GUILTY OF ANIMAL CRUELTY AFTER SLEEPING
CAT IS SNATCHED FROM ITS HOME AND BEATEN TO DEATH WITH A HEAVY
CHAIN

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 21-year-old man has been convicted of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals in the beating death of a house cat in June 2005. Aggravated Cruelty to Animals is a felony offense under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law and is punishable by a maximum sentence of up to two years imprisonment.

Douglas Boateng, of 1820 Phelan Place, the Bronx, was found guilty following a non-jury trial before State Supreme Court Justice Darcel Clark. Boateng was also convicted on two misdemeanor counts of torturing animals and criminal possession of stolen property each punishable by a maximum sentence of up to a year in jail. Justice Clark set sentencing for Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in Part T-21.

The crime occurred at 1945 Loring Place on June 14, 2005 at 4:30 in the morning. Boateng and an acquaintance were walking two Pit Bull dogs past the building when they saw a cat sleeping next to a window in a ground floor apartment. The defendant’s acquaintance, who remains at large, opened the window and pulled the cat through both an anti-theft gate and a child protective window guard. After the unapprehended accomplice threw the cat against a wall, the two men unleashed the pit bulls which began to maul the house cat. Boateng admitted that he repeatedly struck the cat with a heavy metal chain as the dogs mauled the animal. Boateng continued beating, chasing and throwing the cat to the pit bulls until it ran under a car and died.

Boateng was arrested following an investigation by the ASPCA which determined that the dead cat had sustained multiple fractures to the ribs, jaw and skull, bite wounds and bruising. The right side of the animal’s brain was crushed. Surveillance cameras that were installed for building security captured the brutal attack on videotape.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jessica-Deanna Lupo and Victoria Coleman of the Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau.