Kitten Beater Sentenced

A Westminster man who tortured his pet kitten by repeatedly dunking it in water and hurling it against a concrete wall was sentenced Friday to 120 days in Orange County Jail, a punishment that cat lovers complained was far too lenient.

Although prosecutors argued that Timothy Alan Freeman, 45, should serve at least two years in state prison for beating the cat into a coma, an Orange County Superior Court judge chose instead to impose a term in County Jail, four years’ probation, psychological counseling and a ban on Freeman’s ever owning pets.

Speaking before a Santa Ana courtroom packed with animal advocates, Judge William L. Evans said he based his decision on Freeman’s lack of a criminal record and the testimony of friends who insisted that the former physician’s assistant was kind and nonviolent.

Evans said Freeman’s assault on the cat appeared to be an isolated yet “screwy, unexplained and violent act.”

It was an assessment that enraged some animal lovers, who said they were disappointed Freeman wasn’t sentenced to state prison for his conviction on felony animal cruelty charges.

“I’m very upset; he definitely should have gotten two years,” said Claudette Tarra of Orange. “This whole trial has been a waste. Here a jury convicts him of a felony and this is all he gets.”

But the cat’s new owner, Brigette Simec, said she is satisfied with the punishment and glad Freeman will be getting counseling.

“I don’t think it’s anything that jail alone can handle,” said Simec, who works at the Orange County Humane Society, where the cat, named Henley, recuperated after the beating.

Before his sentencing, Freeman delivered a long, rambling speech. He said that he was unlawfully prosecuted, that the court had no jurisdiction over him and that he was simply washing his cat when neighbors reported that he was harming it.

“I never thought that washing my kitty would lead to this fiasco,” Freeman said. “I’m shocked at who the real criminals are in this case.”

In arguing for a light sentence, defense lawyer William Bruzzo suggested that pain from neck surgery, medication, and stress from being on disability and away from work may have caused Freeman’s behavior with the cat.

Despite the frustration felt by cat lovers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alison Gyves said she wasn’t entirely disappointed by the sentence.

“I feel good on the whole. He will be incarcerated for a time, and that’s what we wanted,” Gyves said.

As for the cat, Simec said her adopted pet appears to be well and emotionally sound.

“He still has a bump on his nose and tail, but he’s doing great,” said Simec, who keeps the 11-pound black cat indoors and on a special diet. “I just took him to the doctor for his annual checkup, and he’s fine. He’s healthy and happy and very lovable. He’s a wonderful cat.”

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Times staff writer Tina Borgatta contributed to this story.