The Crittenden County, Arkansas Circuit Court ordered a West Memphis priest to pay $3,000 on Monday after he entered a guilty plea to charges of animal cruelty.
Following claims that he trapped and drowned kittens in February, 64-year-old Charles Thessing was charged with two counts of severe animal cruelty.
Thessing is required to reimburse the West Memphis Animal Shelter $2,250 in addition to $3,000 in further court costs.
He is not going to serve any time.
A video about the incident was sent to West Memphis Animal Control on February 7. After obtaining a search warrant for Thessing’s property, West Memphis Police claim to have discovered two deceased cats that seemed to have drowned in a water tank as well as wildlife traps.
