Categories: News, Schenectady County

SCHENECTADY — A jury on Friday found a man guilty of intentionally allowing his two pit bulls to kill a neighbor’s cat, according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

Benjamin Restifo, 31, of Schenectady, was convicted of aggravated cruelty to animals and a related misdemeanor, prosecutors said on Monday.

Restifo was arrested in November, accused of having the cat killed on July 8 on Emmett Street. He was accused of going to the cat owner’s property that evening with his dogs, named Aurora and Kaia. One of the pit bulls attacked the cat, a long-hair calico named Buttons, authorities have said. The cat died at the scene.

Restifo “did walk through the gated opening and up onto the walkway leading to the front porch steps of the house” with both dogs, according to court documents.

The jury convicted Restifo after a weeklong trial and about four-and-a-half hours of deliberation, prosecutors said.

Restifo did not know the owners of the cat, prosecutor John J. Carson said. The motive remains unknown, he said.

“There are some crimes that are just so so heinous and mind-boggling that a complete motive or an obvious motive is not available,” Carson said.

He credited community members who witnessed the attack with contacting police and starting the investigation.

Restifo faces up to two years in jail at his September sentencing. He must not own or care for any animals while he awaits sentencing. That means he can no longer own the dogs used in the crime, Carson said.

City Corporation Counsel Carl Falotico said on Monday the city is aware of the verdict and he anticipates taking some action related to the dogs in the coming days. He did not specify what action that might be.

The case was investigated by Schenectady Animal Control officers and the Schenectady Police Department.

Carson prosecuted the case for the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Restifo was represented by attorney Steven X. Kouray. Judge Kathleen B. Hogan presided.