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Christopher Sanchez, 29, of Howell Township, was sentenced on Thursday, Feb. 1 to four-and-a-half years in state prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago announced. Sanchez pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and simple assault charges on Monday, Dec. 4.
Howell Township police were called to Sanchez's home for an "unrelated matter" on Friday, Mar. 31. Officers found the cat's body outside of the home and began an investigation.
Investigators from Howell police and the county's chapter of the SPCA found that the cat named Lilith belonged to Sanchez. He was accused of using a "sharp instrument" to kill it two days earlier, taking pictures and video of the killing.
Sanchez also attacked his roommate after killing his cat, prosecutors said. He was arrested on Friday, Mar. 31, and he's been held at the Monmouth County Correctional Institution since his arrest.
As part of his sentence, Sanchez is permanently banned from owning a pet or living in a home with an animal. He also had to pay $525 for the necropsy that disproved his claim that the cat's death was a "mercy killing" because it had been hit by a vehicle.
Sanchez also must have no contact with the assault victim, can't return to the scene of the crime, must give up any guns he owns, and must perform 30 days of community service.
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