Cat Killer Pleads Guilty, Gets 500 Hours of Community Service

Joseph Petcka, the former Mets minor leaguer who killed his girlfriend's 7-pound cat, pleaded guilty to aggravated animal cruelty in exchange for doing 500 hours of community service. The Daily News reports that the offer "seemed to surprise" Petcka's defense lawyer, Charles Hochbaum, who said, "Wow! We're prepared to take that right now." Previously, the Manhattan DA's office took Petcka to court, but it ended in mistrial as the jury was deadlocked (a felony animal cruelty conviction would have sent him to jail). Petcka, who previously said he was sorry, told the News, "I like having the community service. I just hope what I do will make a difference in people's opinions of me."

Email This Entry


Comments (13) [rss]

At last, our long national nightmare is over.

nope, he's still an animal abuser/killer

My opinion on this guy will never ever change. I don't care what he does or how many hours he spends cleaning up garbage or answering phones somewhere.

I only hope that the community service doesn't include animals.

I hope the girlfriend dumped him. I can't even imagine what I would do if someone hurt my cat.


That's less of a sentence than even I predicted back when this was 'news'.

He just better stay away from my cat while he's doing his service.

He will do that community service on a roof.

500 hours of community service isn't a punishment, it's a joke. He should spend at least 500 days in prison. Let's hope his 'sentence' keeps him away from animals, unless he's cleaning out a lion's cage.

yes, at least 500 hours in jail.

My opinion won't change. He's still a douche-bully. His service should be with the ASPCA.

Since he likes hurting animals, I hope the only job he can get from now on is in an Armour or Hormel slaughterhouse.

R.I.P. poor wee Norman. 500 hours of community service is indeed a joke - unless he has to do it all in one go with animals who are bigger than him.

Post a comment (Comment Policy)

Tips

Get your daily dose of New York first thing in the morning from our weekday newsletter, now in beta.

About Gothamist

Gothamist is a website about New York. More

Editor: Jen Chung
Publisher: Jake Dobkin

Newsmap

newsmap.jpg

Contribute

Latest Tip:

Tips - 2 suspicious packages in teh city today! One at Times square this morning - one at Federal bu
[more]

Latest Photo:

Subscribe

Use an RSS reader to stay up to date with the latest news and posts from Gothamist.

All Our RSS

Follow us