Cat killer Robert Utech (in photos, right), former police chief of West Concord, Minnesota, was was found guilty of two felony counts involving torture or cruelty to animals, one felony count involving the wreckless discharge of a dangerous weapon, and one gross misdemeanor count of misconduct by a public official.
The charges involved his shooting four cats belonging to West Concord resident George Layman. Utech also admitted to killing about 20 supposedly wild cats inside the city limits using a .22 caliber rifle and dumping the remains in the grain elevator that’s just a block away from the police station.
A former West Concord police officer testified that Utech once chased a cat down Main Street and shot at it. Part-time officers hired by Utech told investigators that Utech told them he killed the cats because, “I hate them. I shoot them all the time.”
Utech also was accused of using a stun gun on an innocent bystander; botching an alleged juvenile sexual assault investigation; and telling a West Concord police officer not to charge anyone who lives in the city with driving under the influence.
Dodge County Sheriff Gary Thompson said Thursday after the trial that Utech won’t ever work in law enforcement again.