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Alleged Kitten Killers Plead Not Guilty

By Pat Peterson Reporter

Published: Tue, October 07, 2008 - 6:35 pm Last Updated: Tue, October 07, 2008 - 8:10 pm

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/19772/

Pat Peterson

Animal rights activists from across Florida turned a few heads outside the Okaloosa County Courthouse in Crestview Tuesday. The group rallied to protest animal abuse and shed light on a case that's rocked the panhandle. In August, Michael Long and his son, Michael Junior, were arrested on felony animal abuse charges. The men are are accused of killing a kitten with a sledgehammer.

"It was sickening," says Malina Gabriel. "It was absolutely a disgusting thing for a human being to do to a helpless kitten."

"We've got to get the word out about this crime and other crimes like this," says rally organizer Jason Williams. "It happens everyday around here, we're fed up with it, we want to make people aware that this goes on and make them aware that animal abuse is illegal."

The Long's were scheduled to be arraigned in court Tuesday, but since both men entered written not-guilty pleas, they weren't required to go before a judge. The Long's attorney spoke on their behalf. The Long's will be back in court on December 4th.