An Ontario County man will serve jail time and face years of supervision after admitting to a disturbing animal cruelty case that left a young kitten seriously injured.
Keaghn D. Picaro was sentenced April 21 in Ontario County Court after pleading guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals, second-degree criminal contempt, and resisting arrest, according to the district attorney’s office.
Judge Stefanie L. Barnes sentenced Picaro to six months in the Ontario County Jail followed by five years of probation. As part of the sentence, he is prohibited from owning or being around animals and waived his right to appeal. Restitution was also ordered, and an order of protection was issued.
The charges stem from a Dec. 25, 2025 incident in the Town of Farmington, where authorities said a five-month-old kitten named Smokey suffered severe injuries after being struck multiple times. The kitten was found with a fractured hind leg and taken into protective custody for emergency care.
Officials credited the Ontario County Humane Society with rescuing and caring for the animal, and recognized the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office for its role in the investigation.
District Attorney Jason MacBride said animal cruelty cases will continue to be prosecuted aggressively, citing the importance of protecting vulnerable animals in the community.
Smokey continues to recover and remains in the care of the Ontario County Humane Society.
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