York resident Richard M. Dalli, 48, of 90 Rogers Road, was charged with animal cruelty after police found a cat they say was murdered at his residence.

The cat had been killed with a blunt object, said Sgt. Thomas Baran.

Animal control officer Tom Porter said Dalli confessed he "thought he killed two cats," but only one was found at his home.

Dalli was at York Hospital when he revealed that he had killed the cat and gave police permission to search the residence, Baran said.

Porter found the dead cat in the residence and took possession of a pet Cockapoo, which was unharmed. The dog was brought to Creature Comforts animal shelter in Kittery, and now is residing with a friend of the family.

Dalli faces a fine of anywhere from $500 to $2,500, Porter said, but will not serve jail time.

Porter also said Dalli's mother died in March and he has been emotionally unstable.  "I don't know if he knows what happened," Porter said.

Dalli is not knew to the criminal justice system.  In May of 1996, Dalli was charged with criminal mischief, $200, operating a vehicle after license suspension and using another's license, $100 and 2 charges of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $150; in September, 1996 was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating drugs or alcohol, $400, and spent 48 hours in county jail; in October 1998 Dalli was charged with theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, $200.

In addition Dalli was charged with criminal threatening in 2006 and violating conditions of release in 2002.  Dalli was convicted of driving drunk twice within a week in 2002, of furnishing liquor to a minor and felony drug possession in 2001.

Update June 26, 2007:  Dalli was charged  at the York Police Department with a warrant for failure to appear for aggravated cruelty to animals.  The York County District Court posted $1000 bail.

Update 9/3/07:  Dalli plead  guilty to killing a cat by hitting it on the head with a blunt object.  He paid a $1000 fine.  The cat belonged to another resident of the house, but they did not know what precipitated that incident.

Update 9/5/08:  Dalli has been charged with murder in the stabbing death of an acquaintance.  Dalli stabbed Wells resident John Wheeler, age 39, at Dalli's home.  Police said it appears that alcohol and drugs were involved in the incident.

  (Photo courtesy of the Portland Press Herald)  While Dalli's motive for stabbing Wheeler to death, police said that, 2 hours before the attack, he offered his friend $500 for oral sex.

Wheeler was killed with a kitchen knife.  He received a 2-inch deep wound on the left side of his chest and a 6-inch deep laceration in the abdomen.  There were more shallow cuts on his body, between his eyes and at the bridge of his nose.

Wheelers girlfriend, Claire M. Cardin stated in the early morning hours following a party at Dalli's house, she Wheeler and Dalli were in the living room when Dalli told them "he had killed 2 to 3 people in the past with a machete knife.  She also said Dalli was telling them about some local juveniles who had ripped him off and he was going to go after them with a knife".

David Young, a tenant of Dalli's who rents the basement, said he awoke to a "female's blood-curdling scream" around 3:30am. and saw a male subject on the floor.  Both Young and Dalli called 911.

Dalli and Wheeler have known each other for about 10 years.

Dalli is being held in the York County Jail in Alfred.

Reference:

Seacoast Online

York Police Logs

Portland Press Herald