The 19-year-old Loveland man who pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals was sentenced to 6 years in Community Corrections on Monday for harming his girlfriend’s kitten.
Khalin Lovely was sentenced Monday in 8th Judicial District Court in Fort Collins for the class four felony to which he had pleaded guilty Aug. 11, according to court records.
“The actions in this case — I watched three short clips — are particularly disturbing,” said Judge Juan Villasenor while delivering the sentence. “Harming a small animal from all I could tell was trying to get away from him … choked it, beat it, sat on it crushing it, and by all accounts performed what the statute calls ‘acts of cruelty.’”
Lovely was arrested Dec. 29 after Cynthia Bond, the mother of his girlfriend, Abigail Backman, became suspicious he was abusing their family pet, a 7-month-old kitten named Dexter, Bond said. Lovely was released on a $100 bond Dec. 30, according to court records.
“He was a black and white 7-month-old kitten who liked pets and treats. He would snuggle to my neck and sleep with me,” Backman said during the hearing while crying.
Bond told the Loveland Reporter-Herald that she decided to install a camera in her living room after finding multiple unexplainable injuries on the cat and after confrontations with Lovely. The cat was taken to a veterinarian the day Bond installed the cameras and saw Lovely harming Dexter. The vet determined the cat needed to be euthanized from the injuries, according to a Loveland Police Department press release. During the sentencing hearing, prosecution attorney Daniel Finegan said the cat did have a disease from the shelter it was adopted from that is almost always fatal, but did not say what the disease was.
Villasenor said that he worries Lovely’s acts on the cat are an indicator for his future.
“He has threatened to kill people … I’ll just put it out there, this is how serial killers begin.” Villasenor said. “It brings grave concern to the court, especially the homicidal intent.”
The arrest affidavit states that Lovely expressed to a Loveland police officer that he was suicidal and homicidal.
An online petition by Animal Victory garnered over 20,000 signatures since January and brought animal advocates to the courtroom, including Tara Mathews, who said she was glad Lovely received more than a probation sentence.
“It’s always a smack on the wrist because usually it’s hearsay,” she said. “When you have solid evidence like this, it was really the pushing point.”
Lovely’s attorney, Danielle Morscheck, said that Lovely’s actions reflect the abuse that he has faced since he was a young child from caregivers.
During the hearing, Lovely told the courtroom that he took an online anger management course and has taken steps towards medication and therapy.
“I recognize that my choices hurt others and cause fear and for that I am deeply remorseful,” he said.
Villasenor evaluated multiple options, including the Department of Corrections, as recommended by Finegan and probation, as recommended by Morscheck, and ultimately sentenced Lovely to six years in Community Corrections, a placement alternative for felony offenders in lieu of prison.
