Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters

Reginald Owen Sear Killed Bunnies In His Hands, Faces 2 Years In Florida Prison

April 1, 2012 Huffington Post

A Florida man who killed his family's pet bunnies after an argument with his wife last year accepted a plea deal for the crime and faces two years in prison.

Reginald Owen Sear, Jr., 35, went to the bathroom and twisted three bunnies in his hands until they died in May after arguing with his wife over who would wake up to feed them, the Sun Sentinel reported. His two children didn't see the incident, but Sear was charged with child abuse because his kids saw him return from the bathroom with blood on his face, according to The Ledger.

He pleaded guilty on Friday to three counts of animal cruelty, two counts of child abuse and one count of domestic battery. State attorneys urged the plea deal so Sear's children wouldn't have to testify in court, the paper reported.

Sear, of Winter Haven, is expected to spend two years in prison and faces another five years of probation after the animal cruelty incident. He's not allowed to own or care for animals, and will have to take anger management classes after his release. Sentencing is set for April 11.