Acquittal, Dropped Charges End Animal Cruelty Case

A former Baylor student has been acquitted of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in the death of a stray cat. Derek Brehm, now a student at University of Texas-Arlington, heard the six-person jury's verdict March 19 in a McLennan County courtroom. After the verdict was read, Assistant District Attorney Crawford Long dismissed animal cruelty charges against Clint Bowers, a Baylor senior. 
The actions closed the case that began with the arrest March 9, 2001, of Brehm and Bowers, both members of the Baylor baseball team at the time, on charges of shooting and mutilating a stray cat that often was seen at a restaurant near the Baylor campus.
Baylor launched an internal investigation into the case, following standard University procedure for alleged student misconduct. Baylor head baseball coach Steve Smith suspended Brehm and Bowers for eight games that March and then reinstated them to the team. Brehm, a three-time All-State pitcher, was on athletic scholarship at the time; outfielder Bowers was not. 
The case generated media attention when members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a national animal rights organization based in Virginia; the Waco Humane Society; and Fuzzy Friends Rescue, a Waco animal shelter, protested Baylor's response to the case.
Upon completion of its investigation, Baylor took additional disciplinary action against the two men, details of which are not released because of federal privacy laws, said Larry D. Brumley, associate vice president for external relations.
(Information for this story compiled from local press reports)