Photo Courtesy of Google
According to the charges, Olivo was observed tossing a cat from his third-floor balcony home on Beach 26th Street and watching the cat hit the ground.
By Forum Staff
A Far Rockaway man entered a guilty plea this week to answer charges against him for the brutal murder of a cat in September of 2016.
Giovanni Olivo, 3a1, formerly of Beach 26th Street, pled guilty, in lieu of a jury trial, to aggravated animal cruelty and third-degree attaempted intimidating a witness. Olivo entered his plea on the day that jury selection was to start in his trial. Justice John B. Latella set sentencing for September 12, at which time he indicated that he will sentence Olivo to ten months in prison. In addition, he will be banned from owning pets for five years and will be required to register with the New York City Department of Health as an animal abuser. The registration will prevent city shelters, rescue groups and/or pet stores from allowing the defendant to purchase or adopt a pet.
Olivo admitted to violently killing a cat in September 2016, as well as to trying to intimidate a witness slated to testify against him in court.
“In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted to stabbing a cat, throwing her from a balcony and then stomping her to death. This was a cruel and vile act of brutality,” District Attorney Brown said.
“These kinds of acts of aggression toward animals cannot – and will not – be tolerated.”
Authorities say that subsequent to his arrest, Olivo attempted to scheme his way out of trouble by attempting to intimidate a witness that saw him kill the cat. DA Brown noted that, “eyewitnesses to criminal acts must be protected from outside interference that might affect their testimony. The defendant is going to jail as punishment for the vicious killing of a cat and for trying to sway a witness to lie in court.”
Charges in the case say Olivo was observed tossing a cat from the third-floor balcony home on Beach 26 Street and watching the cat hit the ground. He then went downstairs and repeatedly stomped on the pet stating aloud “you’re dead to this world.” Several people, including children, who were outside at the time witnessed the cat’s brutal death. After being arrested and charged with killing the cat, he tried to make the case go away by attempting to intimidate a neighborhood person, who had witnessed the incident on September 30, 2016.
