01:50 PM CST on Monday, December 12, 2005

By ROBERT THARP / The Dallas Morning News

A 33-year-old man who abused kittens in the front yard of his Old East Dallas home was sentenced to one year in jail Monday.

Edward Pinales

Witnesses said Edward Pinales was throwing the approximately 10-week-old kittens against a concrete drainage ditch in the 4600 block of Manet Street before he was arrested in April 2005.

"He took those kittens and slammed them on the concrete in an effort to kill them,’’ said prosecutor Nancy Mulder.

According to court testimony, Mr. Pinales, a self-described member of a street gang, threatened the neighbor for calling police.

"This defendant is dangerous to the community and any animals he might come in contact with," Ms. Mulder said.

Mr. Pinales pleaded guilty to charges of retaliation and animal cruelty. A district judge sentenced him to five years' probation for the retaliation charge, and one year in a state jail facility for the animal cruelty charge. He was also fined $500.

Animal control officers seized four kittens and two adult cats. Witnesses said Mr. Pinales killed one kitten, but officers were unable to find it.

The adult cats were euthanized, because animal control workers determined they were too unsocialized to be adopted. The four remaining kittens were later adopted.