Visalia man convicted of animal cruelty after killing mother’s cat, DA says

A Visalia man was convicted May 16 in Tulare County Superior Court of animal cruelty with a deadly weapon, the District Attorney’s said.

On Dec. 21, Rock Rowland, 31, put his mother’s pet cat in a clothes dryer and turned it on after an argument, the DA said. A family friend discovered the dead cat several hours later.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 23 in Department 12 of the Tulare County Superior Court, with Judge Lloyd Hicks presiding, the DA said. He faces up to four years in state prison for the conviction, which is a strike.

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Visalia man convicted of animal cruelty after killing mother’s cat, DA says."