Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 22-year-old Moises L. Germanguerrero of Cheektowaga was arraigned this morning before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with two counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Class “E” felonies).

The defendant became the subject of an investigation by SPCA Serving Erie County following the suspicious deaths of his cats. It is alleged that on March 29, 2021, the defendant’s girlfriend brought a deceased cat to a veterinary hospital, which was then taken to the SPCA Serving Erie County. A necropsy determined that the cat died from blunt force trauma to the head. The defendant is accused of hitting the cat with a closed fist, which caused the death of the animal.

It is further alleged that on October 18, 2021, the defendant’s girlfriend brought another 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 died from blunt force trauma to the head, which was confirmed by a necropsy. The defendant is also accused of fatally injuring the second cat by hitting the animal in the head with a closed fist.

Germanguerrero is scheduled to return on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. for a pre-trial conference. The defendant remains released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying for bail.

If convicted of all charges, Germanguerrero faces a maximum of two years in prison.       

DA Flynn commends SPCA Serving Erie County Officers Jasil Ivory, Tyler Robertson, Lindsey Wood, and Jennifer Maleskis as well as and Detective Terrence Griffin of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation.

“This is a disturbing case of a man accused of killing 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 is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the Animal Cruelty Unit and Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Felony Trials Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.