District Attorney considers felony charges in case of 40 dead cats at apartment
County animal services completes two-month investigation
–After a two-month investigation by San Luis Obispo County Animal Services , the district attorney's office announced it is reviewing a case involving the discovery of 40 dead cats in a Paso Robles apartment for possible criminal charges.
"Today, this office received an investigation and a referral requesting that we file two felony charges against the subject of their investigation for violations of Penal Code section 597 , cruelty to animals," said San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow .
The investigative report from county animal services has not been released to the public, and the subject is not identified by authorities.
The incident was first discovered by the county and City of Paso Robles on Aug. 16 at 1040 Chestnut St. in Downtown Paso Robles. The clean-up of the unit did not begin for almost two months. It was completed last week, which is when the public first learned about the tragic incident .
The case has shocked the community and prompted extensive media coverage as disturbing details and photos emerged .
In addition to the 40 dead cats, six live cats were rescued from apartment unit #D by county animal services.
Dow's office received the investigative report this week, which proposes two felony charges against the unnamed individual at the center of the case. If filed, these charges would mean the district attorney believes there is sufficient evidence of criminal cruelty under California law.
However, Dow noted that his office is still carefully assessing the case, saying the review could lead to further investigation before any final decision is made.
"We will carefully consider the evidence and investigative reports before making a filing decision," Dow told the Paso Robles Daily News yesterday. "This may take a significant amount of time if it is determined that additional investigation is required."
"We take every referral very seriously and this case will be no exception," Dow said. "Also, as we often point out when we file charges, criminal charges are merely allegations of criminal conduct."
"An individual charged with a crime is presumed innocent under the law until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law," Dow said
Photos released by Paso Robles Daily News from inside the apartment showed scenes of extreme neglect, with deceased animals scattered across various rooms.
Public outrage erupted on social media following the reports of the dead cats, with residents expressing horror at the scale of the alleged mistreatment and the conditions described by authorities.
The apartment's manager, Laurie Bryant of Paso Robles, said she was unaware of the tragic situation.
"I would never hurt an animal," said Bryant in an interview . "I have nothing to hide." Bryant said she moved out of the building a year ago.
On hearing of the news reports, Bryant resigned from a popular local newsgroup she founded, SLO County News.
Legal implications and possible penalties
Under California's animal cruelty laws, a conviction for felony animal cruelty carries severe consequences, including potential prison time. Penal Code section 597 outlines that any person who maliciously and intentionally maims, mutilates, tortures, or kills an animal can be charged with a felony, punishable by up to three years in state prison, fines, or both. The statute is broad and covers acts of both commission and omission that result in unnecessary suffering or death of animals.
Dow's office cautioned that the process may take time, as they are committed to a comprehensive review of the case's details. As of now, there has been no official indication of when a charging decision will be made, and the DA's office did not disclose additional details about the individual under investigation.
– Story by Publisher Scott David Brennan
