Contact 13 Investigates
Teen boys face felony charges in case of drowned kittens
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- Two local teenage boys are facing felony animal cruelty charges stemming for the intentional drowning of two newborn kittens. A neighbor took pictures of what happened and turned it over to authorities. Now, less than a week later after Contact 13 first reported the story, those boys are in juvenile custody.
We can't show their faces or tell you their names because they're minors but their age won't keep the boys in that picture from facing felony charges.
"This maybe will teach them right from wrong. You can't do this," explained Christine Ohm.
Christine heard a commotion in her neighbor's backyard last week. It was just hours after two kittens disappeared. They'd been born behind her shed several days prior. When Christine heard the commotion she went to get her ladder to see what was going on. When she climbed up and was able to peer over the wall, that's when she says she caught the boys in the act of drowning the kittens.
She used her cell phone to take two pictures which she later handed over to authorities. In one shot you can see one dead kitten laying on the backyard and another submerged under a barbecue tool in a cup of water.
"I'm standing up for the kittens that were innocent that this didn't need to happen to," said Christine.
Each boy is now charged with two counts of felony animal cruelty. Metro is also recommending misdemeanor conspiracy charges.
"I'm glad that this behavior has been caught early. We certainly hope that there is possibility for rehabilitation, but if not, we definitely want to make sure that the punishment is going to fit the crime," said Gina Greisen.
Greisen, with Nevada Voters for Animals, authored a law passed in last legislative session that allows even first time animal cruelty cases to be charged as felonies. She hopes authorities take this case very serious for several reasons.
"We need the public to be vigilant because I guarantee you if this is going on in your neighbor's backyard there are other things that are going on," said Gina.
One boy was taken into custody Wednesday morning and the other turned himself in with his lawyer Wednesday afternoon. The teens could get as light as a sentence as counseling or they could have to spend time in a juvenile detention facility. They're scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning.
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