Ohio man gets 12 years for killing cats

CINCINNATI, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- An Ohio man is believed to be the first person convicted under the state's felony killing a cat or dog law, officials said.

Russell Swigart, 31, of Highland Heights, was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison for breaking into his former co-worker's home and killing her two cats, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Swigart must serve 20 percent of his sentence before he may be eligible for parole, the newspaper said.

Court records showed Swigart has a history of terrorizing women and injuring or killing their pets.