FROM THE OFFICE OF
ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN J. FLYNN
March 7, 2023
Update June 5, 2023 — Germanguerrero, who pled guilty in March to felony animal charges after killing his cats, was sentenced today in Erie County Court by Hon. Kenneth F. Case to five years probation and a five year “no animal” order.
CHEEKTOWAGA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGE FOR FATALLY INJURING HIS TWO CATS
Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 23-year-old Moises L. Germanguerrero of Cheektowaga pleaded guilty this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class “E” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge in the indictment against him.
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The defendant became the subject of an investigation by SPCA Serving Erie County following the suspicious deaths of his two cats.
On March 29, 2021, the defendant’s girlfriend brought a deceased cat to a veterinary hospital. The pet was taken to the SPCA Serving Erie County where a necropsy determined that the cat died from blunt force trauma to the head. The investigation found that the defendant hit the cat with a closed fist, which resulted in the death of the animal.
On October 18, 2021, the defendant’s girlfriend brought second cat to a different veterinary hospital to be treated for head trauma. The cat was taken to the SPCA Serving Erie County where it was euthanized due to the severity of the injury. A veterinarian at the SPCA determined the second cat also died from blunt force trauma to the head, which was confirmed by a necropsy. The investigation found that the defendant fatally injured the second cat by hitting the animal in the head with a closed fist.
Germanguerrero faces a maximum of 2 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. The defendant remains released on his own recognizance as the charge is a non-qualifying offense for bail.
DA Flynn commends SPCA Serving Erie County Officers Jasil Ivory, Tyler Robertson, Lindsey Wood, and Jennifer Maleskis as well as and Detective Terry Griffin of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation.
“This is a disturbing case of a man who killed his own pets. My office will continue to prosecute animal abusers to the fullest extent of the law. I want thank the SPCA for not only their work in this investigation, but also for the work they do every day to help animals in our community,” said Erie County District Attorney John Flynn.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Animal Cruelty Unit.
— Kait Munro | Public Information Officer
Erie County | District Attorney