In Geary County District Court Wednesday, William Lemiuex, 27, of Junction City, pleaded no contest and was found guilty of one count of cruelty to animals.

According to information provided in court by Michelle Brown, Assistant Geary County Attorney, the defendant had been involved in a dispute with his girlfriend, Brook Cooley of Junction City.

Cooley left their residence but returned the next day looking for her cat. Lemieux told her the cat had run away, but she found it dead in a bag in the trash.

Brown stated an necropsy was done at Kansas State University, and authorities learned three cigarettes and a Q-Tip had been stuffed down the cat’s throat. The cat suffocated.

Sentencing for Lemieux is January 31st.
According to information provided in court the possible minimum sentence on the cruelty to animals count is 30 days and the maximum one year in the Geary County Jail. There is also a possible fine up to $5,000.