Dec. 10--A North Hollywood man was charged with animal cruelty and criminal threats after eating his ex-girlfriend's pet rabbit and threatening to do the same to her, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office announced Wednesday.
Prosecutors said that Dimitri Diatchenko, 46, killed, skinned and cooked the pet of his former girlfriend. He then ate half of it while texting her step-by-step pictures of the act.
When the woman returned to the home they shared, Diatchenko allegedly told her he would kill and eat her, just like he did the rabbit.
The former couple has been living together after their romantic relationship ended. Diatchenko allegedly killed the pet after the woman told him they should no longer be roommates, prosecutors said in a release.
Diatchenko was arrested and booked on Sunday and released the next day after posting $50,000 bond.
He has been charged with one felony count of cruelty to an animal and criminal threats. He faces up to four years and eight months in jail if convicted.
Diatchenko's arraignment has been set for Dec. 30 and prosecutors are expected to ask that his bail be increased to $90,000 according to the release.
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