Teen feeds cat to gator -- could get jail time

[Guest NoCalMike]

5 years, NO.

[Guest TheGame2705]

I say year in jail, a $150,000 fine, three 4 hour therapy sessions a week, and then his family should get sued by the owner for a ridiculous amount.

 

The kid is obviously a dumb fuck with no manners.

[Guest Midnight Express83]

I say try him as an adult. Then give him 5 years, then give him another 10 years for terrorizing his neighbor, find every freaking law in the book to throw at him. This kid is a serial killer in the making. So this kid needs fucking help. Give him jail time then have HIM pay his thearpy sessions. His family needs a good slapping around, get them a fine on something. THis whole family is fucked.

 

Growing up, I knew right from wrong from my family. This kid didn't get that. You don't just start killing living beings without many things allowed to happen before that.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Fed a cat to a gator?

 

Crikey.

[Guest nl5xsk1]

They did a review of the cases and childhoods of serial killers, and cruelty to animals was one of the most common themes in their childhoods. (The other two most common traits were bedwetting and pyromania).

 

So, in my opinion it's not the end of the world that this kid killed a cat; it's what the fact that this kid did this without remorse that's most alarming to me.

[Guest Vyce]

Oh and Choken. This is someone's pet. Imagine if someone took your dog and fed it to a gator.

I have a dog. Cute little fox terrier. I love him more than I love certain members of my own family.

 

But if something like this was done to him, would I advocate putting the bastard who did it behind bars for five years? Hell no.

 

There's no way in hell animals should be given this much importance. I knew a man who once sodomized junior high school girls, and got less than a YEAR for it. Don't tell me it's fair to give this kid a harsher sentence.

[Guest Ripper]

12 years...thats how long that cat had been apart of that family. 12 years. It was not "just a cat" anymore...it was a family member...and that sick little fucker knew it. The main problem with society is that people don't see proper reprecussions for their actions. This fuck took something near and dear to this families heart and killed it just for kicks. He should get what ever they can possibly give him.

 

I always liken crimes like this to desecrating someones grave. Now if someone dug up...say a mother or sister's grave and did all types of shit to it, don't you feel that they should get REAL jail time..not just some slap on the wrist. In theory it is only a grave and only bones, but it means more than the literal meaning. Sure...it was just a cat. Just a animal. But it was also apart of a family that loved it and it loved them back. This kid needs to pay and pay dearly.

[Guest Midnight Express83]

I agree with Ripper 100%

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Oh and Choken. This is someone's pet. Imagine if someone took your dog and fed it to a gator.

I have a dog. Cute little fox terrier. I love him more than I love certain members of my own family.

 

But if something like this was done to him, would I advocate putting the bastard who did it behind bars for five years? Hell no.

 

There's no way in hell animals should be given this much importance. I knew a man who once sodomized junior high school girls, and got less than a YEAR for it. Don't tell me it's fair to give this kid a harsher sentence.

I wasn't saying put the bastard behind bars for 5 years. I was responding to Choken's comments about the animal being only a cat and its not a big deal it happened.

[Guest Ripper]

And if some guy only got a year for that shit with junior high girls, there is something wrong with the system there. He should have gotten more years. That doesn't take away from the severity of this crime. A life that has been attached to your emotions for over a decade transends rather or not it was a cat.

[Guest My Eyebrow is on fire]

Even though what the kid did was clearly wrong and cruel, I find the idea of getting five years for killing a cat pretty extraordinary.

Well, actually that "maximum" is the absolute extreme and is used next to never for first time offenders.

 

The the more convictions you have the closer you get to the maximum. If he had a few M1 priors I could see him getting the full 5 years and the fine but he won't

 

He'll get it plea bargained down to a misdemeanor and he'll get Rehabilitative Probation - after a year of clean piss and a few thousand in fines, he'll have it expunged off his record.

 

His parents have obviously failed, and I'd like to see him boiled alive in piss just as much as the person who started this thread (I'm a pet person too). BUT, everyone deserves a chance at rehabilitation and this is that child's opportunity to learn the value of life.

[Guest Bannable Offense]

A few months in prison, a very hefty fine for property damage and some rehab therapy will be sufficient for judicial purposes, but I'll look the other way if people want to give him a kick to the junk with steel toe boots.

[Guest Plushy Al Logan]

Am I the only one that doesn't see what the big deal is?

 

IT'S A FUCKING CAT! Don't cry over it...

 

 

Sure, the kid's a fucking whack job and needs help but still...

 

IT'S A CAT!

He's not a whack job, I broke a cat's leg yesterday for clawing me, and I may throw it to some pit bulls after reading this thread.

[Guest Cover of Darkness]

Two points:

 

1. Animal cruelty is a time tested sign of a mentally disturbedor sadistic individual. This person needs mental help, not a jail cell that he'll come out of more fucked up then when he went in.

 

2. Giving him 5 years in prison (Adult prison, mind you) over something like this will make him a jailbird for life. He'll do what he needs to to survive in there and by the time he gets out, his life will be totally wasted over one stupid mistake.

[Guest Fook_Hing_Ho]

Andrew J. Castor, 14, of 1432 S.E. 24th Ave. was arrested on charges of felony cruelty to animals, feeding a gator and the theft of the cat.

Feeding a gator is a crime? OK there...

 

 

As for punishment, I say no jail time. He should pay a fine (a hefty one) and undergo some professional mental help, but shouldn't be locked away unless he does it again.

 

He should also have to buy the family a new cat.

[Guest Midnight Express83]

What does buying a cat have to do with anything. It isn't just a cat, it is a family member. It is almost like a child. IE: growing up in the same home for years and seeing it burned down. It is apart of the family itself.

 

That is why he should get the full sentence. Because this kid took a family member way and did it in such a horroric way. Plus, this is a sign of being al killer. So locking him up gets him off the streets.

[Guest kkktookmybabyaway]

Well, no reply from the reporter. How about sending letters to the address mentioned in the article and direct them to "Sick Cat Killer" or something like that?...

[Guest Cover of Darkness]

What does buying a cat have to do with anything. It isn't just a cat, it is a family member. It is almost like a child. IE: growing up in the same home for years and seeing it burned down. It is apart of the family itself.

 

That is why he should get the full sentence. Because this kid took a family member way and did it in such a horroric way. Plus, this is a sign of being al killer. So locking him up gets him off the streets.

It wasn't a human being, that is the bottom line. I don't care if you consider a cat a family member, it is property. Granted, the fact that it's a living animal complicates matters, but 5 years is too long.

 

Plus, I'd rather see the root of his problems explored and for him to be rehabilitated. (It isn't too late, all he did was kill a cat.) It's better for him to become an active member of society rather then in jail.

[Guest Ram]

It doesn't matter that it was a cat, really. Three key points stand out to me.

 

1. Theft/Kidnapping of a living thing from neighbors who probably obviously loved it.

2. With knowledge of that, the cat's final hours and then its death. Apparently it didn't matter that it was considered a loved family member of sorts. This would indicate that it was simply an object for his curiosity. It doesn't appear that he had any reasoning to hurt it.

3. "Crying about it all night" --- Was he crying because for some reason he felt bad about what he did without thinking about it when he did or because he was caught? The former is far too unlikely. He also lied to the police, placing blame on another. No responsibility for his actions, so, at 14, how can one conclude he'll learn responsibility without reprecussions?

 

Give him a hefty fine, require at least five years of psychotherapy, and some community service hour requirements. Also probably give the parents some sort of parent counciling. They need it since they're trying to take away responsibility for their child's actions instead of punishing him. Bad, bad parenting.

 

Will he be a serial killer? The likely answer is no, but nothing is impossible.

[Guest HollywoodSpikeJenkins]

What does giving him a fine do? Nothing. His parents will pay for it, and nothing will happen to him. Send him away for a year, minimum, and 7 years of psychotherapy, till he is 21, and a lot of community service. Fuck that kid, he knew what he was doing.

[Guest wwF1587]

as a cat lover... i agree with him being bitten by a gator but thats just pure rage of this

 

as a human... give him a few years.. mental help... hopefully the kid can turn around.. thats just SICK though... another reason sometimes that I dont want to be part of the human race..

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

Bleh. If my folks lost their two dogs to some poor bored loser like that they would sue for everything they could get and wish 5 years in jail on him too.

 

Damn people always getting attached to animals. The way I see it, humans disgust me because they act like animals, but animals (as pets) are more of a mindless waste than humans are. I wouldn't feed an animal to a crocodile (unless it was aggressive and gave me scars, then I'd eat the fucker myself), but that kid should be getting jailtime for destroying property, not terminating a life of questionable value.

[Guest Ripper]

The only ones that can judge the value of the life of the cat is the family. THEY talked about how it was apart of the family and like a child. Who is anyone else to say that it isn't and they shouldn't feel that way about a 12 year old cat.

 

And just a reminder, jail isn't for making things better, it is payment for wrong doings...it is punishment. IF your child curses out his teacher and you punish him, the punishment might not solve anything...but it shows a reprecussion to actions. If you are saying it is more helpful to this boy to see he did something hurtful and horrible to someone and all he has to do is give up a couple of hours a week talking to some person. If he believes that this is the reprecussions of wrong doing, then what will stop him from doing something worse.

 

He should recieve Jail time. He should see what will happen if you do something like this. Making daddy pay some money isn't teaching him anything.

 

And if at 14 you don't know how fucked up it is to kill your neighbors 12 year old cat...then maybe you should be locked away. If you are that much of a idiot just put a bullet in his head now...it ain't gonna get any better.

[Guest Cover of Darkness]

And just a reminder, jail isn't for making things better, it is payment for wrong doings...it is punishment. IF your child curses out his teacher and you punish him, the punishment might not solve anything...but it shows a reprecussion to actions. If you are saying it is more helpful to this boy to see he did something hurtful and horrible to someone and all he has to do is give up a couple of hours a week talking to some person. If he believes that this is the reprecussions of wrong doing, then what will stop him from doing something worse.

This is incorrect. Since the reformation of the prison and penal system in the mid- 1800's by the trancendentalist New England movement, the focus of prison and such is the rehabilitation of the prisoner first, and punishment second. That's why it's the "Department of CORRECTIONS", and not "Department of PUNISHMENT."

 

If the goal was to punish we could conceivably use the death penalty for any number of crimes that are now non-Capital, because if the courts are there to justy punish people, why worry about whether they survive? Prisons should be about turning people who've made mistakes in their lives into acceptable members of our society. The trouble is, not everyone wants to cooperate. This kid seems like he wants to.

 

If this boy could benefit from mental help it is the DUTY of that state to see he gets it. At this stage, the priority needs to be setting this kid right, now pining for some cat who died as a result of his imbalance. Prison WILL make him worse, the cat is dead, and giving him 5 years won't bring him back. There's still a chance to make sure this HUMAN BEING's life doesn't go down the drain for one stupid mistake.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

What nonsense. According to this theory all prisoners would be forced to go through counseling sessions regardless of the nature of their crimes. No one would ever work in a chain gang or make shirts or license plates. Hell, why lock them up in the first place? Someone who steals a few cars isn't really a "danger to society." We should just talk to him instead, I suppose, and tell him why his actions were wrong.

 

Bullshit from beginning to end. Whatever the name of the department, prison time is a punishment. It is supposed to deter - or, at the very least, establish a currency of sorts for crimes. It is not designed to "correct" or "rehabilitate." It never has been and it never will be. Yes, a lot of people come out worse, but some come out better, and in any case the improvement of the prisoners is simply not the primary concern of the prison system. Punishment is. Western legal theory has always been based on game-playing theories of human behaviour without reference to morality. (Which is, incidentally, the main reason why the right to vote should be retained by felons who've served their sentence.) The death penalty isn't used for every crime because we believe in making the punishment fit the crime. Unlike, say, the Arabs, who DO predicate law on their insane notions of morality.

 

And just what is an "acceptable member of our society?"

Edited May 21, 2003 by Cancer Marney

[Guest Cover of Darkness]

What nonsense. According to this theory all prisoners would be forced to go through counseling sessions regardless of the nature of their crimes. No one would ever work in a chain gang or make shirts or license plates. Hell, why lock them up in the first place? Someone who steals a few cars isn't really a "danger to society." We should just talk to him instead, I suppose, and tell him why his actions were wrong.

 

Bullshit from beginning to end. Whatever the name of the department, prison time is a punishment. It is supposed to deter - or, at the very least, establish a currency of sorts for crimes. It is not designed to "correct" or "rehabilitate." It never has been and it never will be. Yes, a lot of people come out worse, but some come out better, and in any case the improvement of the prisoners is simply not the primary concern of the prison system. Punishment is. Western legal theory has always been based on game-playing theories of human behaviour without reference to morality. (Which is, incidentally, the main reason why the right to vote should be retained by felons who've served their sentence.) The death penalty isn't used for every crime because we believe in making the punishment fit the crime. Unlike, say, the Arabs, who DO predicate law on their insane notions of morality.

 

And just what is an "acceptable member of our society?"

1. You misunderstand me. Rehabilitation doesn't always involve counseling. It's not tough to see why some JD who steals a car stole that car. But it is important to make sure he doesn't do it again. That's why there's probation officers and work release programs and the like. Obviously there are some people who will never get better, but one should make an attempt.

 

2. Penal laws are there to punish, but there should be an emphasis placed on making sure the felon doesn't repeat his mistakes. Not to simply punish him for the crimes he has commited.

 

3. Someone who can function without serious incedent in American society. If you meet the responsibilities placed on you by your family, your occupation, and don't interfere with other people's rights I'd say you're acceptable.

 

That doesn't make you a good person, just acceptable.

[Guest Cancer Marney]

Fair enough on all counts. I've always liked the idea of release preparation systems and halfway houses (even though they're badly implemented at present), and as you stated prison itself is a direct cause of recidivism more often than not. We do need penal reform in this country - desperately so. Anyone who's ever read so much as a page of the SPLC's prison review knows that. I'm not saying we shouldn't make rehabilition a concern, just not a priority.

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

The only ones that can judge the value of the life of the cat is the family.  THEY talked about how it was apart of the family and like a child.  Who is anyone else to say that it isn't?

Yes, the family can judge the value of the cat's life... that is, its value to the family. But the value of the cat's life/death in a crime is judged by whomever is making the decision to imprison the boy. They can disregard the family's feelings for the cat as they wish.

 

Personally, I think the kid should be forced to work in a (whatever you call a cat kennel) for 2 years or when he shows an appreciation of cats... depending on which one comes last. And he should have to scoop a lot of crap and other dirty work at the beginning. And other community service. It's my belief that someone should give more than what they took from society, even if the family won't forgive him... not that he shouldn't be punished.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Personally, I think the kid should be forced to work in a (whatever you call a cat kennel) for 2 years or when he shows an appreciation of cats... depending on which one comes last. And he should have to scoop a lot of crap and other dirty work at the beginning.

 

That's like saying.."This guy got busted with a bunch of perscription drugs that weren't his. Let's make him work in a pharmacy to recognize his mistake."

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

Personally, I think the kid should be forced to work in a (whatever you call a cat kennel) for 2 years or when he shows an appreciation of cats... depending on which one comes last. And he should have to scoop a lot of crap and other dirty work at the beginning.

 

That's like saying.."This guy got busted with a bunch of perscription drugs that weren't his. Let's make him work in a pharmacy to recognize his mistake."

 

It's my belief that someone should give more than what they took from society, even if the family won't forgive him... not that he shouldn't be punished (too).

 

And I know I edited my post to include that before you misquoted me. And there's more of a chance that someone would steal from a store while working there, than that person who killed a cat repeating the action with other cats (assuming he was being supervised).

 

# 2... "personally, I" implied wishful thinking =P