A Santa Barbara man is headed to state prison after pleading guilty to torturing and killing at least five cats — and possibly many more — during the past several months.
David Scott Genovese, 36, was sentenced Wednesday to six years and eight months in prison by Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Von Deroian, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
Genovese pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty, and admitted a special allegation for using a deadly weapon, according to Kevin Weichbrod, supervising deputy district attorney.
Genovese remained in custody without bail at the County Jail on Wednesday night pending transfer to a state prison.
The case began on Jan. 25, when sheriff’s deputies found a cat in distress in Genevese’s vehicle with a cord around its neck and its paws bound with duct tape.
“The cat, Sultan, was determined to have significant injuries, including broken teeth, bones, and severe head trauma,” Weichbrod said.
The animal had been adopted in good health earlier that morning from a Los Angeles-based animal shelter.
Investigators determined that at some point in 2024, Genovese began accumulating, torturing and disposing of cats in the Santa Barbara area, Weichbrod said.
Between Aug. 4 and Sept. 6, 2024, he adopted four cats from both the Santa Barbara and Santa Maria animal shelters, but their conditions and whereabouts are unknown, Weichbrod said.
Genovese also was determined to have stolen two kittens from the same animal shelter in Los Angeles on Jan. 15 of this year, and they are still missing.
While a warrant was being obtained for Genovese’s arrest, he stole a 2½-year-old orange tabby cat named Lancelot from a family home in Ventura on Jan. 29.
After Genovese’s arrest the next day, Lancelot was found deceased in the trunk of his vehicle, his paws bound with packaging tape, similar to Sultan.
Deputies returned to the area where they initially had contacted Genovese and located a deceased tabby cat in varying stages of decomposition, 55 feet from where Genovese was parked.
That animal’s paws were bound together with black duct tape, the type located in Genovese’s vehicle, Weichbrod said.
The cat had suffered extensive bruising, multiple broken legs, all four canine teeth broken, and dislocation to its spine and tail, Weichbrod said.
“Thank you to our local Advanced Veterinary Services for their efforts in treating animals in our county, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for their dedication and assistance in this case,” District Attorney John Savrnoch said.