Posted on 11/9/2007, 11:54:05 AM by billorites
A Claremont man has pleaded not guilty to a felony cruelty to animals charge that alleges he whipped his neighbor's cat to death outside his home earlier this year.
Bruce Robie, 40, of 24 High St., Apt. 1, was arraigned yesterday in Sullivan County Superior Court. His bail conditions remained intact, including an order to have no contact with the cat's owner, Vanilla-Clove Moonstone. Prosecutor Dave Park said the case would probably be scheduled for trial next spring or summer.
Robie was arrested July 17 around 9 p.m. after Moonstone reported to police that her son heard a noise and looked out the window of her apartment to see Robie beating a cat, according to Claremont police. When Moonstone looked out the window, she saw Robie whipping her female cat, Buddha, with "a length of stiff cord or rope," the superior court indictment said.
Moonstone, who lives in the apartment above Robie, found her severely injured cat lying lifeless on Robie's porch and immediately called police. Moonstone said she was devastated about the death of her pet and hoped to recoup the money she spent on veterinarian bills. Buddha was euthanized the day after the alleged assault, and an autopsy showed she died from unnatural causes.
Upon speaking with Robie, officers decided to arrest him immediately after the incident, Claremont Police Capt. Colby Casey said last month, though he would not elaborate.
"They obtained additional information that helped them make the decision to charge him," he said.
Jean Slepian, an independent animal welfare activist and lobbyist in Stoddard, said she plans to watch Robie's unusual case closely as it progresses through the court system.
"I think the Sullivan County Attorney's Office is to be commended for pursuing felony charges in a cruelty case involving a cat," Slepian said in an e-mail. "It's rare, and I would encourage them to pursue a rigorous prosecution, and, if Mr. Robie is found guilty, I would encourage a lengthy prison sentence in hopes of deterring others from torturing innocent animals."
Ping
Bad journalism. Innocent is not the same of ‘not guilty’. You either pleaded Guilty or Not Guilty. Innocence is not relevant.
Huh? They euthanized a dead cat?
Yep, there's a bunch of that going around these days. What used to be extremely rare is now commonplace. Another present from our dumbed down Imperial Federal Government School System.
Regarding the woman's name, I wonder if she's related to Springtime-Freshness Moonstone?
LOL!
You euthanize a cat, then claim it died from "unnatural" causes...
Well, duh.
What do you expect from the “journalists” they graduate these days? writing skills are not required, just Marxist idealism and a “ duty” to change the world is all that’s required.
Is that the name of the cat or the owner?
ping.
Vanilla-Clove Moonstone
Vanilla-Clove Moonstone?
Someone was higher than a kite when they picked that name.
The hippie counterculture is alive and well, apparently.
Keep your rodents indoors and they will be safe from psychos.
Poor kitty. What a horrible way for a pet to be treated.
“the cat’s owner, Vanilla-Clove Moonstone”
What kind of a name is that?
Randomly selected in the Household Freshener aisle of the Wal-mart.
I think that they should not only put him in jail but dip him in boiling oil. God, I hate bullies.
Yeah....only shoot at birds.
Well, my general rule of thumb is if it moves it’s edible, but unless I was starving or Chinese cats are safe from me =)
Better the hippie counterculture than whatever culture Bruce Robie is a specimen of.
Agreed. I’m not a “cat person”, but I like all furry creatures, and feathered and scaly ones too. Claremont, NH is right across the Conn. River from the People’s Republic of Vermont, and lots of countercultural stuff is spreading across the line. “Alternative medicine,” antiwar fanaticism, etc.
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