Freehold, NJ – An Asbury Park man arrested for allegedly torturing, defiling and killing a pet cat has been indicted by a grand jury for his crimes against the animal.
An indictment has been handed down by a Monmouth County Grand Jury against an Asbury Park man accused of torturing and killing his pet cat earlier this year, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago.
Bani J. Mezquititla, 18, faces charges of 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 charges are classified as third-degree crimes.
The investigation into Mezquititla was launched on Thursday, March 2, after a concerned citizen brought the deceased cat’s body to the Asbury Park Police Department headquarters.
Following an examination by authorities from the Asbury Park Police Department and the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Humane Law Enforcement Division, it was determined that Mezquititla had owned the cat.
Allegedly, Mezquititla engaged in sexual acts with the animal, inflicting severe injuries upon it. Furthermore, he is accused of restraining and torturing the cat, ultimately leading to its death.
Mezquititla was located and arrested on the same day.
He was transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution, where he has remained in custody throughout the progression of the case. A motion filed by the State to keep him detained was granted.
His attorney has argued in court that Mezquititla should be released from jail since the victim was not a human being.