COVINGTON, Ky. -- A Northern Kentucky man has pleaded guilty to breaking into a former co-worker's home and stabbing her two cats to death.
A jury trial was supposed to begin Tuesday for Russell Swigart of Highland Heights.
After a jury was seated, Swigart, 31, decided to change his plea.
Back in September of 2008, he admitted to breaking into a former co-workers condo in Lakeside Park and stabbing her two cats named Mr. Frank and Piggy.
Prosecutors say Swigart also sent her text messages telling her what he was doing to the cats.
"She had not talked to Russell Swigart for months and months before this happened and out of the blue she was getting very alarming text messages after he had broken into her apartment and tortured her cats got messages taunting her about that," said Justin Sanders, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney.
This marks the first conviction in the Commonwealth of Kentucky under a new law that makes it a felony to torture a cat or dog.
"I think that everybody now should be aware not only was the law enacted, Romeo's law but that it will be enforced in the Commonwealth and certainly Kenton County," said Sanders.
Swigart faces up to 12 years in prison when he is sentenced in November.
Ten years for the burglary charge and two years for the torturing and killing of the cats.
Do you think stricter laws will prevent people from harming animals? Let us know in the comment section below, our
Facebook page or our TalkBack section on
Twitter.
