Oceanside Man Who Tortured And Killed 10 Cats Sentenced To Prison

OCEANSIDE, CA — An Oceanside man who pled guilty to torturing and killing at least 10 cats was sentenced Friday to state prison.

Joshua Boyer, 31, of Oceanside was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to 10 felony counts of crimes against animals.

After hearing from victims, Superior Court Judge Robert Kearney denied the defendant's request for probation. He cited Boyer's "sadistic nature" and said he was a serious danger to society.

"The depravity of the acts and sadistic nature overrides the steps he has taken to make himself a better person," Kearney said at North County Superior Court in Vista.

San Diego Humane Society launched an investigation on May 24, 2019, after a GPS tracker on a cat who was reported missing led to the discovery of 10 dead animals, and other partial remains, on a property in Escondido. Humane Society officers seized more than 125 pieces of evidence, including firearms and tools that were used to "inflict harm," which linked Boyer's fingerprints and DNA to the cats, according to the nonprofit organization.

Boyer adopted cats through animal shelters and Craigslist, including two cats from San Diego Humane Society. He often claimed to be a military veteran "to gain trust of pet owners looking to find new homes for their cats," according to the organization.

San Diego Humane Society worked in collaboration with multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Escondido Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.

"While we can never erase the suffering endured by these helpless animals, we take solace in this investigation coming to a conclusion with the judge sentencing Boyer to eight years in state prison," Humane Law Enforcement Lt. Regina Price said in a statement. "We want this case to serve as a stark reminder that we will relentlessly pursue justice for those who cannot speak for themselves."

City News Service contributed to this report.