A Salem, Ore. man has pleaded guilty to animal abuse and drug charges after beheading his mother's cat because it was "evil," according to USA Today.
Rudy Espinoza, 25, was arrested in June after the authorities were called and was found by Marion County sheriff's deputies covered in blood and scratches.
Espinoza's mother had reportedly returned home after work and started to feed the cat when her son began to attack it, leading to her running away, the Daily Mail reported.
The cat was found beheaded and with a broken tail and a knife beside it, with Espinoza claiming that he had killed it because it was "nosy" and "evil."
Authorities obtained a search warrant and consequently found an ecstasy manufacturing operation taking place from Espinoza's room, according to Newsday. He was claimed by the prosecution to have been selling drugs on the Internet using Bitcoin currency.
Espinoza's defense attorneys claim that he was under the influence of LSD at the time of the attack, with Espinoza stating that he was disgusted with his actions and had "no idea" why he carried out the attack, according to The Statesman Journal.
Espinoza's mother argued during the sentencing that her son should be helped to become a better citizen rather than go to prison due to his ongoing mental health problems. She also asked for the previous restraining order that she had taken out against Espinoza to be dropped.
Espinoza pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree aggravated animal abuse and delivering ecstasy, while two counts of manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance were dismissed, according to The Statesman Journal.
The sentence allows eligibility for early release with good behavior and involves a series of prison programs that are intended to help Espinoza avoid drugs and reduce his sentence.
