Man convicted of killing cat headed to prison

MICHIGAN --  A man convicted of torturing and then killing a cat in front of his neighbors is headed to prison for at least 16 months.

Michael Patrick Stackhouse was sentenced Tuesday in Kent County Circuit Court to 16 months to eight years in prison on the charges of killing and torturing an animal.

A jury found Stackhouse guilty in the crime in October. He admitted to 24 Hour News 8 he grabbed the cat after it ran into a bedroom at his home at the Cedar Springs Mobile Estates in April and began to attack his dogs.

Stackhouse said he threw the cat out onto the street and when it began to twitch, he thought it was having a seizure. He then stomped on its head and killed it.

Police said the incident happened in front of Stackhouse’s neighbors, including children.

The defense tried to argue Stackhouse’s actions were an “act of mercy.”

(WOODTV - Nov 18, 2014)

Earlier:

• Man convicted in cat killing