Bail Reduced for Man Accused of Beheading Cats
Bail was reduced from $50,000 to $1,000 Tuesday for a San Clemente man accused of decapitating his two cats with a machete in his backyard.
Although Municipal Judge Arthur G. Koelle reduced his bail, Danny Drake had not posted the amount by Tuesday night and remained in Orange County Jail.
Drake, 38, pleaded not guilty Friday to two misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Liz Drake said her husband killed the pets because the landlord didn’t allow them and threatened to evict the family. They had used all their money to move in just a week earlier, and could not afford to pay a veterinarian to euthanize the cats, she said.
Drake was arrested after a neighbor called police, saying she watched from a window as he chopped off the cats’ heads Wednesday.
Property manager Steve Humphries said he gave no ultimatum. He said he just asked about the cats because they weren’t mentioned in the lease.
Drake faces a possible sentence of one year in jail and a $20,000 fine.
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