A man, with whom neighbors pleaded with to stop his attack of a cat, is facing up to two years for the bludgeoning death of the stray animal in February of 2012.
The defendant is identified as Richard Ferrugio, 51, of 90-12 103rd Avenue, Ozone Park and was convicted Monday of aggravated cruelty to animals and fourth-degree weapon possession. Witnesses testified that Ferrugio beat the cat with a tire iron in February 2012 outside of Neir’s Tavern. He also threatened concerned passersby that he would do the same to them if they didn’t mind their business. Ferrugio also kicked the animal into a cement wall.
At the time of his arrest, Ferrugio told police that the cat had scratched him and that he had gotten angry and took the lug wrench and hit the cat once. When he saw the cat shaking and in misery, according to his statement, he didn’t want to let the cat suffer anymore so he hit it until the cat was dead to put it out of its misery and pain. Police recovered the lug wrench from Ferrugio’s Altima.
In a statement, DA Richard Brown said, “The defendant showed a complete disregard for the life of a helpless animal by violently beating it to death on a public street. Even when passersby asked him to stop, he refused. This is a troubling crime and deserving of significant punishment.”
Ferrugio was convicted following a six-day trial. His sentencing is July 12.
