Man Pleads Responsible To Killing Kitten, Setting Fires In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Last week, a Woodbridge man pleaded responsible to killing a kitten and setting fires at an residence within the spring of 2023.

The man, Frederick Pierce, confronted expenses of animal cruelty and arson. He submitted responsible pleas to each expenses on Thursday.

Pierce is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25. He might withstand ten years in jail, primarily based on Virginia’s sentencing tips.

On May 26, 2023, Prince William County law enforcement officials responded to an residence at Potomac Heights Place for a reported home dispute. The 911 caller was visibly upset and crying, a report from prosecutors mentioned.

The caller informed police that she left for work that morning with Misty, her 3-month-old kitten, in her room. When the girl returned from work, her bed room door was open and Misty was mendacity on the ground, her legs barely shifting.

“Frederick Pierce, the defendant, admitted he struck the cat with a shoe stating that the kitten was ‘dangerous’ and that it destroyed furnishings,” a report from the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney mentioned. “He additional mentioned the kitten got here into the room and stored bothering him, so he got here into the hallway and struck it two instances within the head along with his blue Jordan shoe, which he was sporting.”

Misty later died from her accidents.

On June 14, 2023, a Prince William County hearth marshal responded to the identical residence for a reported arson. Witnesses mentioned Pierce had set fires and threatened to burn the residence down, in keeping with prosecutors.

“A witness noticed a hearth on the foot of Mr. Pierce’s mattress and extinguished the hearth with assistance from one other witness,” the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney mentioned. “They then locked Mr. Pierce out of the residence and after he failed to achieve re-entry, they heard the smoke detectors from the hallway activate and noticed smoke by way of the peep gap.”

A neighbor extinguished the blaze with help from law enforcement officials.

“Animal cruelty is a severe offense that won’t be tolerated in our group,” Amy Ashworth, Prince William County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney, mentioned. “My workplace stays dedicated to vigorously prosecuting people who have interaction in such reprehensible acts, searching for justice for the helpless victims who can not communicate for themselves. This case serves as a reminder that our group won’t tolerate such acts of violence and those that commit them will probably be held accountable.”