On Friday, March 2, 2018, KYLE W. WILLIAMS, d/o/b 3-21-1999, of Branson and JORDAN HALL, d/o/b 7-13-1998, of Arnold were sentenced by Christian County Circuit Judge Jennifer Growcock to the Missouri Department of Corrections for the torture and abuse of a kitten, which was filmed and posted on Facebook. Williams had previously entered guilty pleas to the felonies of animal abuse and armed criminal action and Hall had entered a guilty plea to animal abuse back on January 8, 2018. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Tony Brown.

“We are satisfied with the sentences handed down today by the Judge for this senseless act of depravity against a helpless kitten. We appreciate the help of good Samaritans in our digital community in reporting this crime as it might have gone unpunished without their assistance,” said Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeff Merrell in response to the sentence.

Neither defendant had an agreement with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as to what sentence they might receive. Williams was sentenced to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class E felony of animal abuse, the maximum punishment, and three (3) years for the felony of armed criminal action. Judge Growcock ordered those sentences to be served consecutively. Hall was sentenced to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Williams also entered a guilty plea to the class B felony of possession of a weapon in a county jail, relating to the sharpening of a spork into a “shank” and received a five (5) year concurrent prison sentence for that offense.