Prineville pastor pleads no contest in shooting of neighborhood cat that left ‘Pumpkin’ permanently blind
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Prineville pastor accused of shooting a neighborhood cat, leaving it permanently blind, entered a no-contest plea to an animal abuse charge Thursday in a deal with prosecutors that will have the case dismissed if he performs community service and pays restitution to the cat's owner.
Jason Swick, 48, pastor at the Prineville Church of Christ, had pleaded not guilty last month to first-degree animal abuse, a Class A misdemeanor that under Oregon law carries a potential sentence of 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250.
Under a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit to wrongdoing, but acknowledges that a jury or judge could convict them of the charges.
According to the petition that was accepted Thursday by Circuit Judge David Delsman, Swick's sentencing will be "held in abeyance for six months to allow for completion of 24 hours of community service and $1,000 restitution to the cat owner. If all conditions (are) completed as required, the case will be dismissed without conviction."
Swick was accused of shooting the neighborhood cat named Pumpkin several times last September, then pleacing it in a dumpster behind the church, sparking community outage and protests. The cat's owner, Amanda Lougher, found the cat alive and bleeding, taking it for emergency surgery in Bend, and it survived.
Swick said in a Facebook post that later was deleted that he believed the cat was feral and attacking his family's chickens, also saying he was "so sorry and feel terrible. I was afraid and didn't know what else to do in the moment."
Lougher read a statement in court Thursday that she also posted on her Facebook page, where she said she was "thankful to be able to close this chapter of our lives! Thankful for all the love and support for the community!"
In court, Lougher said, "There are far less violent ways to deal with a neighborhood cat," also saying the family's 9-month-old cat was shot in the face three times.
"I appreciate you owning the choices that you made that night, and each day since," Lougher said, addressing Swick in the courtroom. "May both families and the community move forward in peace. Today, in this moment, I choose to forgive you. Please do better!"
