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Man who put cat in dog’s cage to be killed going to prison

A cat lives in a room with a half dozen others Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at the Pet Placement Center in Chattanooga. The shelter is a "no-kill" shelter, meaning that they do not euthanize animals to make room or because they come in with expensive medical conditions. A cat lives in a room with a half dozen others Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014, at the Pet Placement Center in Chattanooga. The shelter is a "no-kill" shelter, meaning that they do not euthanize animals to make room or because they come in with expensive medical conditions.

By Associated Press June 4, 2015 1 min read

ATHENS, Ga. — A Georgia man who admitted putting a cat in a dog’s cage to watch it be killed has been sentenced to prison.

The Athens Banner-Herald reported Thursday that 21-year-old Jahmal Anthony Swaby of Athens pleaded guilty in the cat’s death and to threatening a witness who called police. Swaby also pleaded guilty to weapons offenses and receiving stolen property.

Swaby was sentenced to eight years in prison and 12 years’ probation.

Authorities have also said Swaby had a stolen revolver. Swaby was convicted of burglary in 2013 and is not supposed to have firearms. The judge also sentenced him to 12 months of probation after his sentence.

The newspaper reports Swaby’s 21-year-old co-defendant has pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty charges and has yet to go to trial.