Year in jail for cat kicker

ZION, Ill., April 3 (UPI) -- An Illinois man who pleaded guilty to severely beating his cat has been sentenced to one year in jail and 30 months of probation.

Lake County Circuit Judge John Phillips also sentenced Jack Henderson, who was originally charged with animal torture but pleaded guilty Feb. 24 to a lesser charge of aggravated cruelty to an animal, to undergo treatments for mental health, substance abuse and anger management, the Daily Herald newspaper in Arlington Heights, Ill., reported Friday.

The judge also ordered Henderson to complete 200 hours of public service and remain at least 50 feet from animals during his probation.

"You are to have no contact with, nor ownership of, any animal and you cannot be within 50 feet of an animal of any kind," Phillips said. "If you are walking down the sidewalk and you see someone walking a dog toward you, you cross the street."

Henderson was arrested Aug. 23 after his girlfriend reported that he was severely kicking his cat, the Daily Herald said. The animal was found unconscious and had to be euthanized.