A North Hollywood man has been charged with animal cruelty and domestic violence crimes for allegedly killing his girlfriend’s two-month-old rabbit during a violent outburst in February.
On Feb. 11, Nicholas Hart, 25, allegedly crushed the rabbit named Momo, then stuffed it in a garbage bag and threw it out of the couple’s second-floor apartment, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors said the rabbit died from blunt force trauma to the chest, abdomen and face.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Hart had also previously attacked his girlfriend.
He was arraigned on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a felony count of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor count of causing injury to a spouse or cohabitant and attempting to disarm a victim or witness, and three counts of disobeying a court order not to have contact with the victim.
A judge set bail at $150,000 and issued a protective order barring Hart from having any animals in his care.
Hart’s next court hearing will be on April 16. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to eight years in prison, prosecutors said.
