California: Deviant cat torturer, cat killer and son of a retired San Jose police captain, Robert Farmer, may have to register as a sex offender

CALIFORNIA -- A San Jose man who tortured and killed 21 cats may have to register as a sex offender.

Robert Roy Farmer, 25, was ordered to return to court on March 2, when a sentencing date is expected to be set, reports the San Jose Mercury News.

In October 2015, San Jose police found Farmer asleep in his car, with a dead cat beside him, and was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to 21 felony counts of animal cruelty, one count of misdemeanor battery, and one count of being under the influence.

A necropsy on the orange female tabby cat found in his car determined that the animal died of blunt force trauma and may have been sexually abused.

Farmer’s DNA matched samples found on the cat’s claws, evidence could may require the man to register as a sex offender.

Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Ellis told a crowd gathered outside the courthouse that the sentencing was taking such a long time because “there are so many sentencing laws at play,” the Mercury News reports.

“The people have asked the court to consider 290 registration, which is sex offender registration,” Ellis said.

Farmer is in custody at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas. He faces up to 16 years and four months in prison.

(SF Gate - Jan 29, 2017)

Earlier:

• California: Suspected cat killer, Robert Farmer, is the son of a retired San Jose police captain
• California: San Jose accused cat killer Robert Farmer sexually abused at least one of the felines he tortured and killed
• California: Suspected cat killer Robert Farmer, 24, pleads not guilty to animal cruelty charges
• California: More animal cruelty charges filed against accused cat killer, Robert Farmer, who may have also raped the cats