A Calvert County grand jury handed down a two-count indictment against an Owings man accused of killing a pet cat. The indictment against John Gregory Hayden Jr., 30, was filed Oct. 15 in Calvert County Circuit Court. Hayden has been charged with animal cruelty.
According to a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office press release, Animal Control officer C. Montgomery responded to Allied Partners Veterinary Emergency Service Aug. 27, two days after the cat killing allegedly took place. The injured cat was brought to the facility by Hayden, who told staff he accidentally hit the animal on the head with a mallet. The cat had to be euthanized. The press release stated a subsequent investigation determined Hayden struck the cat on the head after it defecated in the house.
If convicted, Hayden could face jail time and a $5,000 fine.
According to documents on file in circuit court, Hayden is tentatively scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
