Man denies guilt in kitten-torture case

Clint L. Wilkes, who faces misdemeanor charges in connection with allegations that he abused kittens, has entered a not guilty plea in Salt Lake County Municipal Justice Court, according to a court official.

Wilkes is charged with two counts of animal cruelty and one of animal abandonment, all class B misdemeanors.

Salt Lake County Animal Services launched an investigation in June after a woman, believed to be Wilkes' girlfriend, brought two injured kittens into the agency.

"The woman had already taken the first kitten to the vet, and it had a broken leg, burns on the tail and the tail appeared to be broken. She later brought in another kitten with burned ears and a burned tail," according to Temma Martin, spokeswoman for Salt Lake County Animal Services.

Wilkes relinquished legal custody of the kittens to animal services on June 13, Martin said.

One kitten has been adopted, Martin said, and the other is still at animal services and is available for adoption.