Following last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case, women’s rights are certainly a hot-button issue.

But one Florida man took his argument that it’s a “man’s world” a little too far, when police say he punched and choked his girlfriend’s pet rabbits, then threw her across the room during a heated argument about women’s rights, reports the Sun Sentinel.

According to police, 28-year-old James Wertz and his girlfriend were arguing about women’s rights – particularly Wertz’s assertion that it’s a “man’s world” – inside their Boyton Beach residence when things began to get heated.

Wertz’s girlfriend went into the bedroom to escape the escalating argument when she heard one of her pet rabbits screaming. She told police that when she emerged, she saw Wertz choking and punching her pet rabbit Bun Bun, causing blood to come out of the rabbit’s eyes.

Police were unable to locate Wertz until the next day, when he was arrested on charges of domestic battery and cruelty to animals.

Cruelty to Animals, Domestic Battery Alleged

Under Florida law, animal cruelty occurs when a person “unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter, or unnecessarily mutilates, or kills any animal, or causes the same to be done.” Cruelty to animals is a first degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of $2,500.

Battery in Florida is also generally a first degree misdemeanor that occurs when a person “actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other or intentionally causes bodily harm to another person.” Under Florida domestic violence laws, any conviction for a domestic violence offense requires a minimum of five days in jail in addition to any other penalties or sentence imposed.

Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer).

Related Resources:

  • James Wertz Punched Rabbit During Fight About Women’s Rights: Cops (The Huffington Post)
  • Man Who Blew Up Dog to Face Animal Cruelty Charge After Uproar (FindLaw’s Legally Weird)
  • Man Gets 10 Years for Chihuahua Sex Assault (FindLaw’s Blotter)
  • NY Woman Sues for Puppy’s Pain, Suffering (FindLaw’s Injured)

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Civil Rights

Block on Trump’s Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court

Criminal

Judges Can Release Secret Grand Jury Records

Politicians Can’t Block Voters on Facebook, Court Rules