Jody Cothron, 39, of 2306 Barfoot Circle, was found guilty in municipal court today after he failed to show up on time for his animal cruelty trial.

Cothron was charged in April with aggravated animal cruelty after he was alleged to have beaten a cat during a visit to the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League shelter. The cat was taken to a veterinarian, where it later died.

BARL President Lu Becker said after the ruling that the crime should be a felony. Aggravated animal cruelty is a misdemeanor, but subsequent offenses would be treated as a felony, according to Mississippi Code.

“I don’t think it’s strong enough,” Becker said. “But I’m glad he’s convicted. Maybe he won’t do it again.”

Cothron’s sentencing was not immediately available.