The 400 Towers resident who admitted to baking his cat to death will serve the next five years on probation, Interim Judge Michael Pietruszka ruled in Genesee County Court today.
The defense attorney for Darren Annovi, Lisa Kromer, argued that jail was not an appropriate sentence for Annovi because he has had persistent mental illness and has suffered from mental health issues since childhood.
Annovi has limited intelligence and did not intend to harm his cat, she said, even though he knew it would die in the hot oven, he apparently thought it would painlessly go to sleep and pass away.
During the term of Annovi's probation he will not be allowed to own any pets.
Wendy Castleman with Volunteers for Animals was hoping for more.
“I think the concern I would have is the signal it sends to the public," she said. "This is a person who killed an animal in a cruel way and received probation. So does that make it OK for other people?”
Via our news partner, WBTA.
He should "never" be allowed
He should "never" be allowed to have a pet, not for just 5 years as his mental illness will not be gone in 5 years.