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WILKES-BARRE — A Luzerne County judge has granted a request for Kenny Rowles, accused of baiting cats with fish hooks, to undergo a mental health examination.
Rowles’ attorney, Enid Harris, last week filed a motion believing a competency evaluation is necessary after she spoke with him.
Judge Michael T. Vough added more to the request wanting a description of the examination, Rowles’ diagnosis, an opinion of Rowles’ capacity to understand criminal proceedings against him and if he has the ability to assist in his defense. Vough also directed a psychiatrist be hired to conduct the evaluation.
If Rowles, 27, is declared incompetent, Vough wants an opinion as to Rowles’ ability to be rehabilitated to the point he could understand criminal proceedings.
Rowles, of 407 1/2 E. Main St., Plymouth, is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a dispositional hearing where he enters a plea on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. If he pleads not guilty, Rowles will be given a trial date.
Humane officers with the SPCA charged Rowles in May after investigating a complaint he was placing food on fish hooks and baiting cats from a rear porch at his residence in April.
A cat named Tollie was found with a triple prong fish hook embedded in its mouth with string in a vacant house next to Rowles’ residence, humane officers said. Other stray cats in the vacant building were found unharmed.
Tollie survived its injuries after a surgery by Dr. Inayat Kathio at the Wilkes-Barre Animal Hospital.
Court records say Rowles admitted he used baited triple fishing hooks and string to feed cats.
Rowles remains jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $100,000 bail.
