A Tamworth man who allegedly tortured a household pet by shooting it multiple times with a BB gun has been indicted on a felony charge of cruelty to animals. Blanchette, 20, 427 Depot Road, is alleged to have injured the cat named "Rain," by shooting the eyes out of the family cat with a BB gun between April 1 and April 22 in Tamworth. The animal was reportedly later thrown into the woods suffering broken legs. The charge is a Class B felony potentially punishable by 3 1/2 to 7 years in jail upon conviction.

A Carroll County grand jury returned the indictments when it met in June. An indictment is not a finding of guilt but rather an indication that an independent jury has voted after hearing from police the sufficient evidence exists to warrant a Superior Court trial.

This is not the first time Blanchette has had trouble with the law.  In October, 2005 at the age of 17 he was arrested on an active warrant on Depot Rd in Tamworth.

Reference:

The Citizen of Laconia