KENTON COUNTY, Ky. -- A Northern Kentucky man who admitted to torturing and killing two cats who belonged to a former co-worker faces a tougher sentence because of a new law.
Romeo's Law makes it a felony in Kentucky to torture and kill a cat or dog.
In October, Russell Swigart admitted to killing two cats that belonged to Bridgett Wright.
Swigart told a judge that he broke into Wright's condo and stabbed her two cats to death.
Prosecutors say he then sent Wright text messages about the incident.
Swigart faces up to 12 years in prison. The burglary charge carries a potential 10-year sentence and the torturing and killing of the cats carries a potential of a two-year sentence.
Swigart was scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Kenton County Circuit Court. The judge has continued the case, however, because Swigart wants to add comments to the sentencing report.
The new date is set as Dec. 14.
