Local man gets maximum penalty after cat shot, dumped
ASHLAND, Ohio (WJW) – A local man has been sentenced to the maximum prison term possible under an animal cruelty law named after FOX 8’s own Dick Goddard.
Christopher Ferrell, 51, appeared before Ashland County Common Pleas Judge David Stimpert on Friday having already pleading guilty to one count of cruelty to a companion animal and a separate charge of unlawful possession of a dangerous ordinance, both fifth degree felonies.
Ferrell was arrested in January after a badly beaten cat was found inside a litter box that had been taped shut and left outdoors in a dumpster in freezing temperatures.
The cat, while still alive, had been badly beaten and shot.
On Friday, Ferrell’s attorney told the court that the cat belonged to a roommate of Ferrell who moved out, leaving him to care for the animal.
“My client told me that the cat unfortunately had kind of a poor disposition with him, as well as with his other animals. He had a couple of ferrets that he took care of and the cat would attack him, would attack the ferrets and things like that. That ultimately led to him taking the actions which are obviously regrettable in this situation,” said Attorney Greg Tarkowski.
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Ferrell told the court that the incident was all just an accident.
Ashland County Prosecutor Christopher Tunnell, however, used statements Ferrell gave to police during their investigation to argue that there was nothing accidental about the injuries.
“He didn’t accidentally stomp the cat with steel toed boots. He repeatedly struck the cat by stomping on it and when that didn’t work and the cat wasn’t dead, he attempted to shoot it with a pellet gun.” said Tunnell.
“This defendant wasn’t even successful in managing to bring about the cat’s demise. What he did, what he admitted to law enforcement as a part of this is that the cat was still alive. He knew it was still alive when he put the cat, all of the cat toys and accoutrements that he had on hand in the closed litter box and then taped it shut and placed it in the dumpster,” added Tunnell.
The cat was taken to a local veterinarian, but its injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanized.
“There’s nothing accidental about that. There isn’t anything to say after he boot stomped the cat that he had some form of remorse to say, ‘wow, this cat is in bad shape’ and to try to do something for it that would demonstrate that he has any respect for life,” said Tunnell, calling Ferrell’s actions “beyond intentional.”
Tarkowski argued that his client was “more than a great candidate for community control.”
But Stimpert disagreed.
“Its simply impossible to believe that this was an accident that occurred by you stepping on a cat in a dark room. There are multiple factors that would indicate that is just the furthest thing from the truth,” the judge said before passing sentence. “You admitted to stomping on the cat and dumping it. First you lied to them, you said you took it out and dumped it on an Amish property. But then you eventually admitted that you injured the cat. you were hoping the dump truck would take it away.”
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“It would be hard to imagine a much worse form of this offense than what you did to this cat,” the judge added.
The firearms charge to which Ferrell also pleaded arose from the investigation of the cruelty case.
While searching for a pellet gun that could have been used to shoot the cat, investigators found an illegal sawed-off shotgun in a safe at Ferrell’s home.
Ferrell argued that the gun wasn’t his, but he agreed to keep it for a friend.
Stimpert on Friday sentenced Ferrell to the maximum penalty of 12 months in prison for the animal cruelty charge, the longest sentence available under what has become known as Goddard’s Law.
The law, championed by FOX 8’s late meteorologist, made it a felony to intentionally harm a companion animal.
Ferrell was also sentenced to an additional six months in prison for the firearms violation.
Ferrell was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the Cat House Feline Sanctuary, a local animal rescue that paid the veterinary bill hoping to save the life of the cat.
Friday’s sentence was applauded by those working for the rescue.
“They are not just an animal, they are a companion animal,” said Ryan WIlliams.
“When the verdict came out, it was what we had been praying for and hoping for and we are just thankful that Goddard’s Law exists and that our community leaders take it seriously,” said Megan Harper.
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