Jayco Cat Compactor Charges Dropped
MIDDLEBURY, Ind. — Charges have been dropped against three men who work for the Jayco RV company in Middlebury, who are accused of putting live cats in a trash compactor.
The charges were dismissed, according to MyCase, but it was unclear why.
The three men, John Lipscomb 44; Travis McKay, 29 and Arlin Hochstetler, 31, were each charged this week with torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, which are felonies.
The incident happened Feb. 27, according to court records.
The men boxed up the cats, before sliding them into the compactor. According to the court documents the men believed they were doing the right thing and did not believe the cats would suffer, and that since the animal shelters were full, they would eliminate the cats themselves.
Jayco issued the following statement on the incident:
“We take this matter very seriously, and do not condone the actions of the three individuals involved or animal cruelty of any manner. Their employment with the company has been terminated. Immediate measures were taken and continue to be executed to educate employees on appropriate procedures and company expectations.”
