Trial will be set for local man accused of killing kitten by throwing the animal against a wall

A La Crosse man will be scheduled for trial on a charge of killing a two-month-old kitten at his house. 

Kenneth Becker faces a possible 5-and-a-half year prison term if he’s convicted of mistreatment of animals. 

Becker pleads not guilty to the charge, after a hearing where a La Crosse policeman was questioned about the case. 

Officer Alex Vang testified that he was told by Becker’s family that they heard a meow and a thud one day in May, and concluded that Becker had thrown the cat against a wall. 

The animal died a short time later.  Becker reportedly had been bitten or scratched by the kitten.

Becker’s child reportedly had told others about the cat’s death two days after it happened, and police went to the family’s north La Crosse home to check on the story. The kitten had been buried already, and police dug up the pet’s body to investigate.