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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Kenny Rowles, accused by police of baiting cats with fish hooks and severely injuring at least one, pleaded guilty to charges against him on the day his trial was set to begin.</p><p>Rowles, 28, appeared before Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough on Monday for what was supposed to be the beginning of his trial. Instead, though, he entered a guilty plea on a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.</p><p>The Plymouth man first made headlines in May of this year in a story that was then picked up by national and international media outlets after he was arrested by humane officers who received a complaint he was baiting fish hooks on a porch at his home to ensnare neighborhood cats.</p><p>At least one cat, named Tollie, was severely injured by Rowles&#8217; baiting. Tollie was found with a triple-prong fish hook embedded in its mouth in a vacant house next to Rowles&#8217; residence. Other cats were also found in the home, unharmed.</p><p>Tollie survived the injuries after a surgery by Dr. Inayat Kathio at the Wilkes-Barre Animal Hospital.</p><p>When Rowles was confronted by humane officers about the cat with a fish hook in its mouth, he began to cry and asked if he was in trouble. He refused to follow officers to the rear of his property, claiming he was working as a contractor at another apartment in his building.</p><p>However, during a later interview with humane officers and police, he admitted to baiting the fishing hooks.</p><p>After Rowles&#8217; guilty plea on Monday, Judge Vough scheduled sentencing for him on Dec. 2. Records suggest he is out on bail pending his sentencing hearing.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Man accused of baiting cats with fish hooks pleads guilty to torture