ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Warning: Graphic details of animal abuse
A 31-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday after admitting he tortured and killed at least ten cats back in 2019.
The hearing took place at the North County Courthouse in Vista. The courtroom was so packed, that the bailiff placed extra chairs in the gallery, yet there still weren't enough seats for everyone. Officers with the San Diego Humane Society, the owners of the cats who were killed, and other animal lovers were in the crowd.
The defendant, Joshua Boyer, wore a mask during his sentencing. He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty charges in 2023.
Victim impact statements
Three people gave victim impact statements.
Loretta Bunten told the judge she trusted Boyer and rehomed two of her cats with him.
"I can't believe I trusted this man," said Bunten. "I have had nightmares since then of what happened. I can't believe somebody could do such horrible things."
Jeffrey Johnson's cat, Leonard, went missing in 2019. He described him as a beloved member of the family. He and his wife often thought of him as their first child. He slept in their bed and became best friends with their dog, and later, their children.
"Lenny welcomed them into the pack without hesitation," he said.
Leonard was wearing a GPS tracker when he disappeared. Johnson told the judge he called the police after the tracker pinged near Boyer's parent's property in Escondido. According to Boyer's defense attorney, Gretchen von Helms, Boyer had been living in the shed, without his parent's knowledge.
Johnson told the judge San Diego Humane Society investigators described the shed as a 'house of horrors.' He said the lead investigator on the case told him she hasn't been able to sleep in four years waiting for this case to go to trial.
"Evidence in Joshua Boyer's sheds included cats with needles stuck into them like pin cushions, cats attached to car batteries and electrocuted, cats used as target practice with crossbows. Cats chopped into bits with a machete, cats zip tied onto cages outside and left to die a slow, painful, death in the heat without shade, water or food," said Johnson.
Johnson said the couple's son was too young to understand what happened, and would cry because he missed Leonard.
"How do you comfort your own child, when you can't tell him the truth about what happened?" he said.
Leonard's body was never found, though fresh blood and orange fur were found on Boyer's property. Johnson said his cat's GPS tracker was later found in the backyard of a neighbor's house.
"We will never have true closure," said Johnson.
Boyer's apology
Von Helms told the judge her client suffered from mental illness. Back in 2019, she said he was depressed over problems with his wife and her postpartum depression after the birth of their baby, and he suffered a breakdown.
Boyer told the judge he's been an animal lover his whole life.
"I'm extremely sorry for all the people I hurt," he said.
"I acted out in stupid ways," said Boyer. "It's literally the biggest regret I'll ever have and I am extremely sorry for all the people with pets I have hurt."
Deputy District Attorney asks for maximum sentence
Deputy District Attorney Eva Kilamyan pointed out Boyer began trying to adopt cats through Craigslist well before his daughter was born. Therefore, his argument this was all related to his wife's postpartum depression, doesn't make sense.
She also said he preyed on vulnerable pet owners, some were elderly and going to nursing homes and couldn't care for their cats anymore. She said Boyer pretended to be a member of the military to gain their trust.
She said one victim interviewed 12 people. Boyer charmed her, so she chose to give her cat to him.
"He used manipulation and lies to convince these vulnerable people to give them their cats," said Kilamyan
She called Boyer a sociopath and a danger to the community. She said serial killers such as Ted Bundy started off torturing animals. She said a message needs to be sent to the community about the serious nature of these charges. She said the hope is it would help deter young people from committing these types of crimes.
Judge's ruling
Von Helms asked the judge to sentence Boyer to probation. Deputy District Attorney Kilamyan asked he be given the maximum sentence under the plea agreement, which is eight years in prison.
Judge Robert Kearney sided with the prosecutors.
"It's one thing to kill an animal, it's another thing to torture an animal," said Judge Kearney. "In this particular case, these animals were members of the family."
"When the court considers the facts of this case, the gravity of the acts that occurred, the sadistic nature that was exhibited by Mr. Boyer, the timeframe over which the acts occurred, and the number of acts and number of animals involved, all of those factors give this court great pause and concern about Mr. Boyer's risk to society now and in the future," he said.
Judge Kearney added that he applauds the progress Boyer has made in getting treatment.
As spectators left the court, you could hear loud cheering over the sentence in the hallway.
Though Boyer was sentenced to eight years, he will receive credit for the four years he was under house arrest and required to wear an ankle bracelet. Deputy District Attorney Kilamyan told CBS 8, that with good behavior, he could be out of prison in two years.
Leonard's other owner, Johnson's wife, Elizabeth, said she's relieved Boyer is getting some prison time.
"Finally, justice is done," she said. "We're just so happy he's not getting off on probation," she added. "It's come full circle. We don't know where [Leonard] is buried or where he is but at least he finally has the justice he deserves."
