July 19, 2005
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Man faces charges after cat is spray-painted, burned
A mentally disabled man faces felony animal abuse charges after allegedly spray-painting and setting fire to his pet cat.
Jerry Lawrence McCray, 35, appeared Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court on two counts of first-degree aggravated animal abuse and one count of first-degree animal abuse.
He remained in the Jackson County Jail Monday in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Medford police on June 19 went to a North Ross Lane group home where McCray lived with several other mentally disabled clients, said Medford police Lt. Tim George. A caregiver told officers that
McCray said he killed his cat.
The gray feline, named Cosmo, was found in some backyard brambles, George said.
It had been spray-painted green, and its head was burned, he added.
McCray was not arrested when police spoke to him later that day in the psychiatric ward of Rogue Valley Medical Center, George said.
He was indicted Wednesday on the charges and arrested Sunday on suspicion of failing to register as a sex offender.
McCray was convicted of second-degree arson in 1995 after pleading guilty but insane. He was sentenced to five years under the supervision of the state’s Psychiatric Security Review Board.
