DaaaihLoong writes: "

Guard Convicted of Crushing Kittens

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- A prison guard was
convicted Tuesday of aggravated cruelty to animals for
crushing five kittens to death in a trash
compactor at Sing Sing.

Ronald Hunlock, 47, could get up to two years
in prison.

"In the overall scheme of things in today's
world, the lives of five kittens could easily be considered
of slight significance by some," said Judge
Peter Leavitt, announcing his verdict after a non-jury
trial. "This court feels differently."

Hunlock was also convicted of trying to kill
the kittens' mother, who escaped from the compactor at
the last moment and has since been adopted.

He showed no reaction on hearing the verdict.

Hunlock found the kittens in a search of an
inmate's cell at the state prison last month and ordered
the prisoner to put them in the compactor.
When
the inmate refused, Hunlock did it himself.

He claimed the cats were deathly ill.

Hunlock has been suspended without pay and
will
be fired upon his sentencing March 19,
corrections officials said."