Court Rules Landlord Legally Shot, Killed Cats
- Share via
A landlord in Frederick who shot and killed two cats after a tenant refused to get rid of them was acquitted of felony charges, the first court test of a new Maryland law designed to stiffen penalties for animal cruelty.
A judge ruled that Eric Grossnickle destroyed the cats in a legally acceptable manner when he blasted them with a 12-gauge shotgun.
“I don’t like what he did, but it’s not a crime under Maryland law,” Circuit Judge Mary Stepler said.
The ruling left the cats’ owner, April Ritch, frustrated and tearful.
“It’s not a crime to take somebody’s house pets from their home and shoot them and kill them?” Ritch asked.
Grossnickle was also acquitted of theft but convicted on two counts of malicious destruction of property, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
