VAN NUYS, Calif.
A 25-year-old North Hollywood man has been charged with felony animal cruelty and multiple misdemeanor counts after allegedly killing his girlfriend’s 2-month-old rabbit and assaulting her, state prosecutors said.
Nikolas Hart, born July 25, 2000, is charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with one felony count of animal cruelty. He also faces misdemeanor counts of injury to a spouse or cohabitant, attempting to dissuade a victim or witness, and three counts of violating a court order not to contact the victim.
Hart pleaded not guilty at arraignment. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, officials stated.
If convicted, Hart faces up to eight years in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Bail was set at $150,000. A judge issued a protective order barring him from owning or possessing animals.
Prosecutors allege that about 9 p.m. Feb. 11, Hart stomped on the rabbit, named Momo, during a rage, then placed the animal in a trash bag and threw it from a second-story apartment. The rabbit died of blunt-force injuries to the chest, abdomen and face.
Authorities allege Hart had assaulted his girlfriend on prior occasions.