A 25‑year‑old Los Angeles man, Nikolas Hart, has been charged in a February domestic violence incident that included the alleged intentional killing of his girlfriend’s 2‑month‑old rabbit, “Momo.” Hart has been accused of stomping on the infant rabbit, then putting it in a trash bag and throwing it two stories to the ground. A medical ruling listed the rabbit’s cause of death as blunt force trauma to the chest, abdomen, and face.
What he is charged with
Hart faces one felony count of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts tied to domestic violence and obstructing justice:
- One misdemeanor count of injury to a spouse or cohabitant
- One misdemeanor count of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness
- Three misdemeanor counts of disobeying a court order not to contact the victim
Prosecutors say Hart had previously been accused of assaulting his girlfriend. If convicted on all five counts in this case, he could face up to eight years in state prison.
Court actions and restrictions
Hart pleaded not guilty at his April 6 arraignment. The court has issued a protective order barring him from owning or having contact with any animals, and his bail was set at $150,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 16 at Van Nuys Courthouse, with the L.A. County District Attorney’s Animal Cruelty Section handling the case as it continues to be investigated.
