Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen reports that Anthony Gargano, dob 6-21-74, of Gansevoort, New York pleaded guilty as originally charged, in the Milton Town Court on March 5, 2024 to a violation of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law Section 353, a Class “A” misdemeanor. The investigation by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office revealed that after regular business hours on the evening of Thursday, January 4, 2024, the defendant abandoned a cat, known as Kane, outside of the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. On the Saratoga County Animal Shelter cameras, he is seen leaving the cat without shelter and driving away. That night the temperature dropped to approximately 20 degrees. To date, Kane the cat has not been located.
Milton Town Judge Timothy Brown presided over the case today and sentenced Defendant Anthony Gargano to a conditional discharge, which requires the defendant to: 1) refrain from frequenting unlawful or disreputable places or consorting with disreputable persons; 2) work faithfully at a suitable employment or faithfully pursue a course of study or vocational training; 3) support his dependents and meet other family responsibilities; and 4) not own, harbor or have custody or control of any animal until March 5, 2074 [50 years]. The Judge also sentenced the Defendant to pay a fine of $500.00, a court surcharge of $205.00, a DNA fee of $50.00 and provide a DNA sample for inclusion in the NY State DNA Databank.
Before imposing sentencing today, Judge Brown heard victim statements from the owners of Kane the cat regarding how the actions of the defendant have impacted their lives.
District Attorney Heggen noted, “The defendant’s actions on January 4, 2024 when he abandoned Kane the cat outside the Saratoga County Animal Shelter after their regular business hours without any shelter are inexcusable and that is why we insisted he plead guilty to the charge filed against him. It is ironic that Defendant Gargano left Kane the cat without shelter outside the County’s Animal Shelter where animals are cared for, but did so after hours when no one was present to receive the cat on a cold winter night.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Emily Williams, with the assistance of Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nicole Voegler, Saratoga County Animal Shelter Director Kelly DeVall and her dedicated employees. The DA’s office also notes the commitment of the community members who have volunteered their time to attempt to locate Kane the cat.