A Plymouth, Pennsylvania man turned himself over to police in Luzerne County where he remains tonight at Luzerne County Correctional Facility. Bond is set at $100,000.
Kenny Rowles, 27, of East Main Street was arraigned at the Nanticoke Municipal Building by District Judge Donald Whittaker. Rowles is charged with several counts of aggravated animal cruelty in what a local humane officer describes as animal torture.
Humane Officer Lisa Devlin stated a cat named Tollie was found with a fishing hook and string embedded in the throat. Emergency surgery was performed to save Tollie.
Devlin stated in an interview with Times Leader.com
“The charges are very serious, it was very harmful to the cat. I’m thankful that the justice system will step in now and get justice for Tollie. The intent was a little bit concerning. Neglect is one thing but the intent to intentionally harm and knowingly, just like the law says, it’s concerning.”
Tollie’s story as well as Kenny Rowles being the prime suspect were covered by PoC back in April. Those articles can be found at the end of this article.
Rowles admitted to officers who went to the home on April 9 that he put meat on fishing line and used the bait to “feed and play with cats” from his back porch. There were several cats on the property but only one was ever found with a baited hook in its mouth. The other cats were unharmed.
It’s reported Rowles cried in front of officers when he learned a cat was found with an embedded hook and string. When asked to accompany officers to the back of the property, Rowles made an excuse he was working with a contractor in another part of the building. He did ask if he was in trouble with the law.
Charges include two felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor counts of neglect of animals and cruelty to animals and a summary count of animal cruelty No information is available at this time as to when Rowles will appear in court. Hopefully, the $100,000 bond will keep him in jail and away from animals for a long time.
Tollie’s prognosis is good and the kitty is recovering in foster care.
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Is this man mentally ill? He seems to be. There has to be some degree of madness in a person for them to do this. I hope he is not mad enough to avoid a proper punishment. Please Mr Judge sentence him properly.