Freehold Township
By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Monmouth County introduced {that a} native man has admitted to torturing and killing his pet cat final yr.
According to officers, he pleaded responsible to Animal Cruelty by Tormenting, Torturing, or Unnecessarily or Cruelly Abusing a Living Animal, Resulting in its Death, and Animal Cruelty by Using or Causing or Procuring the Use of an Animal or Creature in Any Kind of Sexual Manner, each third-degree crimes.
Officials acknowledged that an investigation into Mezquititla’s actions was initiated in March 2023, when a involved citizen introduced the physique of a useless cat to Asbury Park Police Department headquarters.
Members of that company and the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Division decided that the cat had belonged to Mezquititla, who allegedly first carried out sexual acts on the animal, significantly injuring it, officers stated.
According to officers, he’s additionally alleged to have later restrained and tortured the cat, leading to its loss of life.
Mezquititla was positioned and arrested on the identical day the investigation was initiated, then transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI), authorities say.
Officials say he stays incarcerated there because the case has progressed, as a movement by the State to maintain him detained was granted.
This case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Keri-Leigh Schaefer and Sevan Biramian, officers acknowledged.
Officials stated sentencing within the case has been tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 13, at which period the State is requesting a time period of 5 years in state jail, the utmost allowable underneath both relevant statute, in addition to restitution for the cost of the cat’s necropsy and an order completely banning Mezquititla from ever once more proudly owning, residing with, or having custody over any animal.
