A Santa Barbara man has received the maximum prison sentence possible in a horrific animal abuse case.
Prosecutors say David Genovese adopted a number of cats from animal shelters in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria, but then tortured and killed them.
They say he also stole and killed a family’s pet cat from Ventura. When Genovese was arrested in January, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s deputies say they rescued a badly abused cat in his car, which he had adopted just hours earlier.
The 36-year-old Genovese pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
