North Carolina: Danny Knotts gets 75 days in the county jail for slowly strangling two kittens to death and dumping their bodies in a shallow grave

NORTH CAROLINA --  A New Hanover County man will spend time in jail after pleading guilty to animal cruelty charges on Wednesday in New Hanover Criminal Superior Court.

Daniel Eligha Knotts, 20, of New Hanover County, entered guilty pleas to two counts of animal cruelty, class H felonies.

On May 3, Knotts strangled two kittens that were only a few weeks old and when Officer Rose with the Wilmington Police Department responded to the scene after getting a 911 call, the kittens' tiny bodies were found by police in a shallow grave behind a residence at 2825 Graham Street.

Knotts admitted his guilt to his roommate and law enforcement.

On Wednesday, Knotts received two suspended sentences of 6-17 months with 60 months of supervised probation with the Division of Community Corrections, the maximum time allowed under state law.

He does not have to go to prison. Instead, he must serve 75 days in the county jail prior to being released on probation.

Knotts will also be required to complete mental health and substance abuse evaluations and treatment, comply with prescribed medication, and he is not allowed to possess or care for any animals during the course of his probation.

 

 

 

 

 

(WECT - July 28, 2017)

Earlier:

• North Carolina: Danny Knotts, 19, admitted to police that he strangled two kittens to death them dumped them in a shallow grave together behind his house