A 21-year-old Trinity woman is facing a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge after she allegedly admitted to trapping a neighborhood cat inside her home and attempting to kill it in multiple ways over the course of several days. Juliana Alyssa Brown was arrested Wednesday, according to a Pasco Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit. The affidavit identifies a residence on Amaryllis Court as the incident location.
The investigation began on October 11 after a mandatory clinical reporter notified law enforcement that Brown had made admissions about abusing and killing a cat, according to an arrest affidavit reported by IONTB. As reported by Tampa Bay 28, investigators say Brown trapped the cat inside her home in May 2024 while her family was away on vacation, a detail her family members later confirmed to investigators.
Detectives say Brown stabbed the cat and attempted to drown it before ultimately killing it, then hid the body from her family members and committed additional acts involving the remains, according to investigators. An arrest affidavit relayed by Patch detailed that Brown allegedly admitted to attempting to drown the cat, crushing it between her legs, and drowning it in a bathroom before skinning it, consuming blended organs, and preserving parts of its remains in alcohol for months.
Evidence and Confession Detailed in Affidavit
Detectives recovered photographs, a knife Brown allegedly identified as the weapon used, and other evidence tied to the case, per the arrest affidavit. Brown participated in a post-Miranda interview and again admitted to the acts under investigation, the affidavit states. Based on that evidence, detectives determined probable cause existed to charge her with aggravated cruelty to animals, and officials requested a high bond.
The Pasco Sheriff's Office stated that animal cruelty can be a warning sign associated with future acts of violence, according to the affidavit. The case reached law enforcement only because of a narrow legal exception: under Florida Statute Section 394.4615, clinical mental health records are confidential by default, but clinicians may disclose patient statements to law enforcement when necessary to prevent serious threats or report violent acts.
What the Felony Charge Could Mean
Under Florida Statute Section 828.12(2), aggravated animal cruelty involving intentional torture is classified as a third-degree felony, carrying up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, a mandatory $2,500 fine, and mandatory psychological counseling. Prosecutors also hold statutory authority under Section 828.12(3) to file separate criminal charges for each distinct act of cruelty committed against an animal, though it remains unclear whether additional counts will be filed in Brown's case.
If convicted, Brown would also face consequences under Florida's Dexter's Law, enacted in July 2025, which imposes sentencing multipliers for aggravated animal cruelty convictions, bars those records from being sealed or expunged, and places convicted offenders on a public statewide registry maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to the Brancato Law Firm. Pasco County separately enforces its own Ordinance Number 17-01, which established a local Animal Abuser Search registry through the Pasco County Clerk to block convicted abusers from acquiring dogs or cats in the county.
Animal Services and Other Cases
Pasco County Animal Services field officers investigate cruelty and assist local law enforcement with animal-related emergencies. Hoodline previously covered a 30-dog case in Pasco County.
It remains unresolved whether prosecutors will pursue additional charges under the statute's provision for separate counts, or what formal mental health evaluations may be ordered as the case moves through court.
