Cheyenne Cherry Goes to Jail But is Unrepentant
Update Aug. 9: For the crime she described as "just a joke", Cheyenne Cherry was sentenced to a year in jail and barred from having pets for 3 years.
During her sentencing the teen said the child with her put the cat in the hot oven, and she left the animal in there to die a painful, terrifying death.
Cherry smiled, stuck out her tongue and taunted, "It's dead b*tch!" when she walked past animal welfare advocates as she left the courtroom.
Original report: On July 15, 2009 Cheyenne Cherry was allowed to plead guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty in New York for burning a kitten alive in an oven. This little animal died a horrendous death. She was originally charged with aggravated animal cruelty.
A misdemeanor plea means she will spend at most one year in jail.
Cherry, also pleaded guilty to burglary, originally charged as a Class D felony, but in the end was reduced to Class E.
Cherry can receive no more than 1 year in jail for both crimes, according to the plea agreement.
The kitten belonged to Cherry's ex-roomate, Valerie Hernandez. Cherry, age 17, and a 14 year old, broke into hernandez' apartment, threw the kitten into a very hot oven and also vandalized the place, leaving with some food and other items.
Cherry claimed her 14 year old accomplice was actually more culpable because it was his idea. It's not clear how that makes Cherry less culpable.
Surely, if this crime did not merit felony charges, what does?
The sentencing is set for July 31, 2009.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Contact Judge Margaret Clancy and urge her to change the 3 year ban on working with or owning animals to a lifetime ban. There is no reason for Cheyenne Cherry to ever own or keep or be near an animal again. Remind the judge of the link between cruelty to animals and domestic and other violence to humans.
Hon. Margaret Clancy
Bronx County Supreme Court
265 East 161st St.
Bronx, NY 10451
718-618-3000 ext. 1079
Contact assistant district attorney Jennifer C. Troiano and urge her to reconsider the 3 year ban on working with or owning animals. Tell her this should have been prosecuted as a felony. Please be polite. You do more harm if you are rude.
Jennifer Troiano, Office of the District Attorney, Bronx County
215 East 161st Street
Bronx, NY 10451
718- 838-7208
Other officials in the office of the District Attorney for Bronx County:
Robert T. Johnson, Bronx District Attorney 718-590-2000, Fax: 718-590-2198
Steven Reed, Director of Public Info., 718-590-2235, Fax: 718-590-2234
Joe McCormack, Assistant District Attorney, 718-590-2026, Fax: 718-781-1129
Nancy Borko, Senior Asst. District Attorney, 718-838-7114
Anthony Girese, Counsel to the D.A., 718-590-2175, Fax: 718-992-0545
