AUBURN — A man accused of severing a 13-week-old kitten's spinal cord entered a not guilty plea in Cayuga County Court on Thursday.
Jeremy McNair, 22, was arraigned before Judge Thomas Leone on aggravated cruelty to animals (a Class E felony) and two counts of torturing or injuring animals/failure to provide sustenance (a misdemeanor). McNair's attorney, Eric Smith, said his client was pleading not guilty to all counts.Â
According to New York State Police, troopers received a complaint about animal cruelty on Fuller Road in the town of Aurelius in July. An investigation determined McNair threw a 13-week-old kitten, severing its spinal cord and causing severe physical injuries. State police said that because McNair did not provide the kitten with medical attention, troopers and the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York took it to a veterinary clinic. The kitten was euthanized after staff determined it would likely never regain voluntary function.
Cayuga County Senior Assistant District Attorney Courtney Venditte said in court Thursday that the DA's office was offering McNair five years of probation if he pleaded guilty to the aggravated cruelty to animals charge, in satisfaction of the misdemeanor charges. He would also need to pay restitution to the SPCA.
Leone called McNair's charges "very serious allegations," and suggested he speak with his attorney.
McNair's next court appearance will be a pretrial conference on Dec. 12.
Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.
