Two Las Vegas 16 year olds charged under a new felony animal abuse law were sentenced today for the thrill killing drowning deaths of two newborn kittens last month.
The two youths were seen by a next door neighbor as they drowned two helpless kittens in a glass of water and laughed about it. Christine Ohm confronted the teens and spoke out publicly on the case and her desire for justice for the innocent babies killed in the depraved act. Christine spoke out despite some threats and the knowledge that she would have to live near the perpetrators’ families and possibly suffer retribution.
The police investigated and the court took the stance that the crimes would be taken seriously.
For those who have not followed the case, video from June of this year tells the story.
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The teens were taken into custody at a hearing and were jailed for 20 days before they appeared at a sentencing hearing today after they each made a plea deal. Each admitted to one count of felony animal cruelty and in exchange had their other charges dropped. The case was handled in juvenile court, which may have contributed to the non-punitive sentences handed down.
They were given 30 days in custody, with credit for time served, leaving them each with another 10 days in custody. They will be under house arrest under their parents’ supervision until school starts, and will be on parole supervision for the next 12 months.
During their supervision over the next year, they will be monitored by GPS, will be subject to random drug tests and mandatory counseling, and are forbidden to access weapons or have driver’s licenses or use social media. They are each sentenced to 200 hours of community service and will be required to serve part of that time working with Clark County Animal Control. They are also required to write letters of apology to an animal welfare organization.
The two cohorts are not to have contact with one another or any witnesses in the case (the latter presumably to ensure the safety of Ms. Ohm). The judge further ordered the pair to be monitored until they are 21 years old.
After all is said and done, there is no real jail time, but a lot of small punishments and minor inconveniences.
The pair wantonly killed tiny newborn creatures, laughed about it, joked about potentially killing the stray Mama cat, were threatening, and received a slap on the wrist in juvenile court. This is most likely not the outcome desired by animal advocates who helped get the case prosecuted as a felony using the new one strike law, and those advocates who protested outside of the courthouse in hopes of seeing justice served.
The killers’ names have been protected throughout the course of the news cycle and the case because of their ages.
Minors who are convicted of felonies should not have their identities protected as if they are children. Their mugshots should be plastered on the internet just like adult criminals.
At 16 they know what they are doing and should be named and shamed and be on an abuser’s register. There appears to be no remorse or regret. The punishment should have fitted this sickening crime, not such a pathetic slap on the wrist thing which they are probably laughing about and will most likely violate. They should not be working with animals in any capacity. What planet is this judge on? Their punishment should have been to the full extent of the law.
Anyone capable of such an act, without remorse, will soon escalate to humans. Next time it will be a couple of toddlers drowned.
I agree completely !!!
Yes, most definitely! Their names should be on the abuser’s register and anyone should have access to it. Looks as though these boys are spoiled, self-indulgent and come from a well-off family who could afford a slick lawyer. The judge should not have shown leniency – and working at an animal shelter is not a good place for them to be unless under constant supervision (this won’t happen in an understaffed place).
Dit is weer zo`n voorbeeld van onrecht ze moesten bij die 2 gewoon het zelfde doen want zulke monsters veranderen toch nooit .
Seriously people? They are just cats. They shouldn’t even recurve punishment of any kind for this.
“Seriously people? They are just cats. They shouldn’t even recurve punishment of any kind for this.”
“Recurve” you are a literate as you are useful. Cats are a better species than the people that torture them and the people who defend them, yes I mean you David kerns. Some day you too will “recurve” what you deserve for your pathetic excuse for a life.