A Montgomery County man has been sentenced to prison in connection to a domestic incident that occurred in September 2022, where he beat and killed his girlfriend’s cat.
Michael William Baker Jr., 41, of Ambler, was sentenced to two to six years in a state correctional facility. Under the plea agreement, Baker pleaded no-contest on Tuesday to a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to an animal,
according to a report by Carl Hessler Jr. in The Reporter.
A no-contest plea does not admit guilt but admits that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict him of the charge at trial and could prove the allegation that Baker engaged in ill-treatment of a cat that resulted in its death, according to the report.
In addition to his sentence, the judge said Baker cannot possess or own any animals and must undergo a mental health evaluation while in state prison,
according to The Reporter. Baker also must pay $480 in restitution in connection with the incident. A second charge of animal cruelty and a charge of terroristic threats were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Police were initially dispatched to a residence in Whitpain Township last Sept. 19 for a report of a domestic incident in progress. The victim advised dispatch that her boyfriend — later identified as Baker — had killed her cat and was refusing to leave the residence, according to charging documents.
Arriving police spoke to the victim, who stated Baker had left the scene on foot. Police noted fresh blood on the porch and located a deceased cat inside of a cat litter container on the porch, the documents state.
While being interviewed by police, the victim said Baker allegedly picked up her cat and threw it down a flight of stairs inside of the home. She added that she observed Baker allegedly throwing the cat against an exterior wall, then found the dead cat on her porch, the report states.
Police located Baker walking in the area and took him into custody. While being transported to the police department, Baker allegedly said, "I did not mean to kill the cat.”
The victim told police Baker had a history of mental health issues, according to the complaint.
