Current Case
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SERIAL CAT TORTURE CASE
April 2009 Update
Timothy Kooyman has been sentenced to five years in state prison after accepting a plea deal from prosecutors. Pleading no contest to four felonies including three counts of animal cruelty and one account of unlawfully causing a fire. As part of his deal, Kooyman will receive one strike toward the state’s three strikes law.
Read about the case in the news
February 2009 Update
On February 20, 2009 at 8:30 AM there will be a hearing in Department R-2 of the San Bernardino County Superior Court, Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse concerning this case.
Accused cat torturer and killer Timothy Kooyman amended his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of animal cruelty, and to one count of recklessly causing a fire. The court has appointed two doctors to examine Kooyman, and their reports are due on Februray 20, 2009.
In his response to Kooyman’s new plea, Judge Steve Malone explained to Kooyman that if his plea is ultimately found true-if he is found to be not guilty by reason of insanity either by a jury or a court trial-Kooyman could spend a minimum of 90 days or a maximum of life in a state hospital. Judge Malone made sure to ask Kooyman if he understood this. Kooyman replied that he did.
Because of Kooyman’s insanity plea, he will face trial on criminal charges, and if found guilty he will then face an additional trial phase where a jury will determine whether or not he was insane at the time of his alleged crimes.
Deputy District Attorney Debbie Ploghaus, has said “There is a difference between insane and evil. I think this is a crime of sheer evilness”.