Jonesboro, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 9, 2025 — A Jonesboro man faces an aggravated animal cruelty charge after police said they learned he had strangled a cat to death.
According to an affidavit, on July 2, Jonesboro police officers responded to a reported disturbance at a Jonesboro residence.
A witness said 20-year-old James Earl Tobar killed their cat by strangling it, which they saw him do. They went on to say that Tobar stated the cat “had it coming” and “it never liked him,” while another witness said they said Tobar picked up the cat and threw it earlier in the day, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said that when confronted, Tobar admitted to killing the cat, saying his actions were in self-defense because the cat bit him. However, one of the witnesses said that the cat bit Tobar only after he had grabbed it by the neck.
On July 7, Tobar made his first court appearance in front of Judge Tommy Fowler, who ordered Tobar to have a mental health evaluation and have him held in the Craighead County Detention Center until Wednesday.
Then, on July 9, Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge Tobar with aggravated cruelty to a dog, cat, or horse. Tobar was given a $100,000 cash-only bond as a result.
Boling also said Tobar will go through a voluntary commitment proceeding within the next seven days and the bond may be modified as a result of the proceeding.
Tobar’s next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 21.
