Deshawn T. Miller was arrested in late 2025 by NY State Police for felony aggravated cruelty
From In Defense of Animals,
A New York man who bagged, kicked, and bashed Mister the cat so severely that he needed intensive veterinary treatment has avoided jail time. Despite the horrifying violence Mister endured, his abuser was merely sentenced to probation.
On June 4, 2026, Deshawn T. Miller was sentenced by Judge Christopher M. Tunney to five years of probation, a $50 DNA order, and $5,939.57 in restitution in the case stemming from his aggravated animal cruelty charge. Assistant District Attorney Michelle A. Cooke also requested an order prohibiting Miller from having animals for 20 years.
We are deeply disappointed that Miller will serve no time in jail and was not mandated to receive mental health counseling.
Mister’s ordeal began in November 2025, when a man was seen bagging, kicking, and bashing him on the ground before abandoning him. A witness rushed Mister to the Hornell Area Humane Society for emergency veterinary care. He had suffered a fracture of his left femur at the hip and multiple traumas that caused blood in his chest and urine.
Mister was transported to Cornell University Hospital for Animals for intensive treatment. Thankfully, he survived, recovered, and has since been adopted into a safe and loving home.
New York State Police Troopers identified and arrested Miller, who was charged under Agriculture and Markets Law § 353-a with aggravated cruelty to animals, a Class E felony. New York law allows penalties including incarceration for up to two years and a fine of up to $5,000.
District Attorney Brooks T. Baker couldn’t give Mister the justice he deserved.
In Defense of Animals submitted our letter bearing 12,572 signatures to Steuben County District Attorney Brooks T. Baker in support of maximum sentencing, mental health treatment, and a prohibition on engaging with animals.
Although the sentence fell far short of the accountability we sought, your voices were heard. Together, we made clear that Mister’s suffering matters and that severe violence against animals must be taken seriously.
Thank you to the 12,572 caring In Defense of Animals supporters who spoke up for Mister after he survived a horrifying act of cruelty. Your signatures helped us demand accountability and urge officials to seek a sentence that reflected the severity of his suffering.
Disappointed by the Sentence? Make Your Voice Heard
If you are disappointed that Miller received probation rather than incarceration and was not mandated to receive mental health counseling, you can respectfully express your concerns to the officials involved in the case.
Please keep your comments courteous and focus on Miller’s sentence, the severity of the violence Mister endured, and the need for meaningful accountability in cases of severe animal cruelty.
Hon. Christopher M. Tunney
Steuben County Supreme & County Courts
3 East Pulteney Square
Bath, NY 14810
607-622-8219 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET)
District Attorney Brooks T. Baker
bbaker@steubencountyny.gov
Assistant District Attorney Michelle A. Cooke
cookem@steubencountyny.gov
