Accused cat torturer pleads insanity

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A 24-year-old man facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly torturing and killing cats pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges Thursday in West Valley Superior Court.

Prosecutors accuse Timothy Kooyman of luring stray cats, then breaking their legs and cutting off their tales with scissors before killing them.

Kooyman is also accused of dousing a cat in gasoline and setting it on fire, causing a small brush fire in a dry field in Rancho Cucamonga.

He was arrested by San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies on May 13 when he was found with blood stains on his clothing and two severely injured cats in his pickup truck.

The case's prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Debbie Ploghaus, said Thursday she doesn't believe Kooyman was insane at the time of the crime, stating, "There's a difference between being insane and being evil."

"I think this was just a crime of sheer evilness," Ploghaus said. "He was torturing the animals because he could, I guess."

Two doctors will be appointed by the court to examine Kooyman, Ploghaus said. Their reports are scheduled to be completed by Jan. 22, when Kooyman is next due in court.

Because of Kooyman's insanity plea, he will first face trial on criminal charges, and if found guilty he will face an additional trial phase where a jury will determine whether he was insane at the time of his alleged crimes, Ploghaus said.

Kooyman remained jailed Thursday at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $150,000 bail.

His defense attorney did not return a call seeking comment Thursday.