Man admits to squeezing HAMSTER to death with his bare hands in pet store

LOUISIANA -- A 21-year-old Louisiana man has pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals for squeezing a hamster to death at a mall pet store.

On Monday, State Judge Steve Grefer ordered Vincent Caracci, of Metairie, to serve two years' probation and perform 80 hours of community service.

Grefer also ordered the 21-year-old grocery store clerk must undergo psychological evaluation at his own expense, and he is barred from owning pets while on probation.

According to an arrest report, Caracci grabbed a hamster similar to the one
pictured and squeezed it in his hand until the tiny rodent stopped breathing

His conviction may be expunged from his criminal record if he completes his probation, according to the plea agreement reached between his attorney, Ann Steinhardt, and prosecutor Rachel Africk.

[All this sadist has to do is his community service and not pick up any new criminal charges in two years' time and this horrific crime will be wiped off his record - as though it had never happened.]

The incident took place March 27, 2013, when Caracci stopped by the now-closed Lakeside Pets store at Lakeside Shopping Center.

According to Caracci’s arrest report cited by NOLA.com, an employee at the pet shop spotted the would-be customer roughly touching the animals in their cages.

When the woman told Caracci to stop mishandling the critters, the 21-year-old picked up a hamster and ‘continued to squeeze the animal until it made a loud squeaking sound and [stopped] breathing.’

When the store clerk confronted Caracci and demanded to know what he was doing, the 21-year-old kept mum, but stared at her 'with a mean disposition.'

At the time he was arrested, Caracci was on probation for possessing synthetic marijuana. He was sentenced to six months in jail on the drug charge last month.
(Daily Mail - Feb 28, 2014)