ASBURY PARK – A Monmouth County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against an 18-year-old man charged for torturing his pet cat which resulted in its death, officials said.
Bani J. Mezquititla of Asbury Park was charged with Animal Cruelty by Tormenting, Torturing, or Unnecessarily or Cruelly Abusing a Living Animal, Resulting in its Death, and Animal Cruelty by Using or Causing or Procuring the Use of an Animal or Creature in Any Kind of Sexual Manner, both third-degree crimes.
On March 2, a concerned citizen brought the body of a dead cat to Asbury Park Police Department headquarters. Investigators learned the cat belonged to Mezquititla.
Authorities said Mezquititla allegedly performed sexual acts on the animal, seriously injuring it. He is also alleged to have later restrained and tortured the cat, resulting in its death.
He was located and arrested later on the same day the investigation was initiated, then brought to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI). He remains incarcerated there as the case has progressed, as a motion by the State to keep him detained was granted.
Mezquititla faces up to five years in state prison for convictions on criminal charges of this nature.
Anyone with information about this incident is still urged to contact Asbury Park Police Detective Anthony Houlis at 732-502-4582, SPCA Chief of Humane Law Enforcement Michael Goldfarb at 732-542-0040, or SPCA Lt. Michael Magliozzo at 732-440-4538.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
