California: Rock Rowland, 31, convicted of animal cruelty after putting his mother's cat in the dryer and killing it

CALIFORNIA -- On Monday, May 16th, in Department 12 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Lloyd Hicks presiding, Rock Rowland, age 31, of Visalia was convicted by a jury of one count of animal cruelty with a special allegation that he used a deadly weapon. The conviction is a strike.

On December 21, 2015, Rowland had an argument with his mother at the house they shared. His mother left the house shortly after the argument and Rowland put her pet cat in the clothes dryer and turned it on.

A family friend discovered the cat deceased in the dryer several hours later.

Sentencing is set for June 23, 2016, in Department 12 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division. Rowland can be sentenced up to four years in state prison for the conviction.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Wendy Sedillo and investigated by Officer Isaac Stephens of the Visalia Police Department.

(Tulare County District Attorney's Office - May 19, 2016)

Related:

• Tulare man, Rock Rowland, suspected of killing his grandfather (August 26, 2013)