WM priest accused of killing cats gets May trial date

Thessing pleads not guilty to charges of felony animal abuse

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

In one of the more unsusual cases in recent memory, a West Memphis priest accused of killing at least two cats in February now has a trial date.

Charles Thessing, 63, was charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty after allegations he trapped and drowned cats last month.

On Feb. 7, West Memphis Animal Control received a video regarding the incident. West Memphis Police obtained a search warrant for Thessing’s property and say they found animal traps and two dead cats that appeared to have been drowned in a tank of water on the property.

Thessing was serving as pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church as well as Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville at the time of his arrest. Days later, he was suspended indefinitely by the diocese in Little Rock.

During a court appearance on Tuesday, March 21, Thessing entered a not guilty Charles Thessing, 63, was charged with two counts of aggravated animal cruelty after allegations he trapped and drowned cats.

Though Thessing has another court date set for next month, a trial date for the case has been set The four-day trial will be held May 19-22.

Thessing made a bizarre appearance on Memphis news station WREG last Tuesday in which a news crew tried to get a statement from the accused priest outside the courthouse.

According to the newscast, “He told us, ‘No hablo inglés.’ He addressed the judge in court in English.

While Thessing was waiting for the driver of a truck to unlock the door, WREG asked him to “say anything in any language.”

“No comment. Please leave me alone,” said Thessing.

In a separate incident, a West Memphis resident reported earlier this week that “someone around the West Cooper area is still killing cats.”

Though there is no clear connection between Thessing’s case and the new incident, Turner Keck said in a post on the West Memphis, AR & Neighbors Facebook page, “The pound reached out to my wife Kya Cavallaro about identifying our young boy Binx. It was him and he is now deceased. The pound believes he was poisoned and are already investigating. We were told that they have found multiple cats in the same state.”

Keck said of the loss of the family pet, “To whomever you are, you’ve broken my wife’s and my 4-year-old son’s heart. You’ve lit this man on fire.”

In Arkansas, Aggravated Animal Cruelty is a Class D felony. The potential consequences, if convicted, are up to 400 hours of community service, a psychiatric or psychological evaluation, and court-ordered counseling or other treatment for each count.

THESSING