A California man has been charged with felony animal cruelty and theft of a companion animal for allegedly luring cats with food, kidnapping them, and killing them, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a Tuesday (May 20) press release.
Alejandro Acosta Oliveros, 46, was arrested in April after allegations that he killed over 12 cats at his Santa Ana home. The DA’s office said he “used cat food to lure cats, kidnap the animals, and stomp or beat them to death.” He’s also accused of stealing a Bengal Lynx cat from a Westminster home and possessing methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
If convicted on all charges—two felony counts of animal cruelty, one felony count of companion animal theft, and one misdemeanor count of controlled substance possession—Oliveros faces up to four years and four months in prison, plus an additional year for the misdemeanor. Prosecutors have requested his bail be raised from $20,000 to $100,000, citing him as a “substantial danger” to the public.
“Additional evidence is being reviewed to determine if further charges are warranted,” the release stated. PEOPLE has reached out to local law enforcement for comment. This case adds to growing public outrage over alleged animal cruelty incidents in the region.
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