Last week, prosecutors announced charges against a Hocking College student who allegedly killed and mutilated a house cat before using its organs as fishing bait.

The cat's carcass was later found thrown on the hood of a car parked near the college campus.

The student, Bryan Able, 18, faces misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in connection the case.

Hocking County Prosecutor Laina Fetherolf said the charges were the toughest she was able to file.

"The second offense, were he to do something like this again, would be a felony," Fetherolf said.  "But where does that leave us this time? And why do we have to let it happen again for it to be a more serious charge?"

At least one lawmaker said that needs to change.

Ohio Rep. Courtney Combs said cases like the one in Hocking County are why House Bills 55 and 70 should become law.

"The key elements to both those are higher enforcement and higher penalties," Combs said.  "They need to be in felony categories so that a person who does these things is properly punished."

Both proposals have been stuck in committee for most of the year, McEntyre reported.

Combs said he hopes that the case will draw attention to the need to bring them up for a vote.

10TV contacted Able's family members for comment about the case, but they declined to speak, McEntyre reported.

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November 6, 2009: Student Accused Of Killing Cat, Using Organs As Bait

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