On February 14, 2015, Cassius Aden Mankin and several others entered the property of Bob and Carol Falk, stole their pet emu, Miss Molly, punched out her eyes, and choked her to death. On April 14, 2015, Mankin was formally indicted by the Grand Jury for the County of Comanche and charged with CRUELTY TO LIVESTOCK ANIMALS for his intentional and knowing torture of a livestock animal.

Mankin’s jury trial was twice postponed, but on April 21, 2016, he waived the right of trial by jury and pled guilty to felony Cruelty to Livestock Animals as charged in The State of Texas v. Cassius Aden Mankin. For his crime, Mankin has been sentenced to 3 years Community Supervision including 160 hours Community Service. He was fined $2,000, charged $2,400 Restitution to Bob and Carol Falk and a $60 Crime Stopper fee plus $249 Court Costs.

The long necks and excellent periscopic vision of emus enable them to survey the land for miles in all directions at once. Emu parents incubate and raise their young together. They are very gentle birds.

Mankin was granted an Order of Deferred Adjudication of Guilt, meaning that if he adheres to the 20 Conditions of Community Supervision conferred by article 42.12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Court will expunge his record, although federal law enforcement can obtain it if necessary.

We are deeply grateful to our supporters for persistently urging Judicial District Court Attorney B.J. Shepherd to prosecute Cassius Mankin for felony Animal Cruelty. Our pleas were heard on behalf of Miss Molly. While justice can never be served for the innocent victim of Cassius Mankin, at least he did not get a free pass.

Cassius Mankin pled guilty to felony animal abuse for torturing and killing Miss Molly.