Man Who Allegedly Stole, Killed Rabbit Faces Two Felonies

A 22-year-old Columbia man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly stole a rabbit from a shelter and hung it from his apartment balcony.

Nicholas Jones was charged last week with animal abuse and felony stealing. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

Boone County prosecutors allege Jones took the rabbit from the Central Missouri Humane Society on April 29.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports Jones' neighbors called police to report they had seen a man stab a rabbit with a pair of scissors, swing the animal in the air on a string and hang its corpse over his outdoor balcony.

A probable cause statement says Jones was taken to the University of Missouri Psychiatric Center.