Press Releases
10/13/2023
Hartford Man Sentenced on Charge of Malicious Killing of an Animal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Vernon, CT) – Matthew C. Gedansky, Tolland State’s Attorney, announced that the Honorable Kathleen McNamara today sentenced Patryk Sochocki, age 29, of Hartford, to five years in prison, execution suspended after one year served, to be followed by five years of probation, for the charge of Malicious Killing of an Animal in the First Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes 53-247(b)(1).
Sochocki’s sentencing in Rockville Superior Court follows his arrest in October 2019 during a traffic stop in Tolland. After observing a motor vehicle swerving and failing to maintain its lane, troopers with the Connecticut State Police Troop C initiated a motor vehicle stop, suspecting the operator was under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Instead, while making contact with the operator, Patryk Sochocki, the investigating trooper observed Sochocki to be covered in white animal fur. The trooper further observed scissors covered in blood and animal fur on the front passenger’s seat and a cardboard box on the front passenger seat floor. In that box, the trooper observed a bloody tricolored rabbit that was in clear medical distress. Further investigation showed that Sochocki had purchased that rabbit half an hour before the incident, after first wanting to purchase a dog. While driving from the pet store, Sochocki dismembered the rabbit by cutting the rabbit’s two hind legs, genitalia and tail off, while the rabbit was still alive. The rabbit was later humanely euthanized as a result of his injuries.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jaclyn Preville.