HOMEWOOD, Ala. — Prosecutors have dismissed a case of aggravated animal cruelty against 21-year-old Thomas Ronald Liccione on Friday, June 12, who was accused of throwing kittens from a moving vehicle on Interstate 65 in Homewood on May 30. Liccione was arrested May 31 by Homewood police.
According to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, a motion was filed Friday asking that the charge be dropped.
“Upon further investigation by the Homewood Police Department and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, it has been determined that there is no longer sufficient probable cause to believe Thomas Liccione is guilty of the charged offense,” Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen wrote in the motion.
Jefferson County District Judge William Bell granted the request and dismissed the charge.
Liccione’s attorney, Elijah Sargent, stated that his client maintained his innocence from the beginning.
“We appreciate the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for its professionalism and thorough review of this matter. After a careful examination of the facts, these charges have been dismissed. Our client has maintained his innocence from the beginning and is grateful for the opportunity to move forward,” Sargent said.
“While the allegations generated significant public attention, the swift dismissal speaks for itself,” Sargent said. “Let this serve as a reminder to the public to not rush to judgment, and that an arrest is just an unproven allegation.”
Police said at the time that witnesses reported seeing five kittens thrown from the vehicle and later struck and killed by traffic midday May 30.
Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen said Friday that only one 911 call came in from the occupants of a vehicle that was following Liccione. During the call, the caller provided the a tag number, vehicle and physical descriptions of the driver.
Officers from the Homewood Police Department later contacted Liccione past the intersection of U.S. 31 and Lakeshore Parkway and determined that he was the vehicle’s sole occupant. Officers later spoke with the two occupants who made the 911 call.
Allen said officers later located and photographed the remains of two cats on Lakeshore Parkway near the I-65 bridge.
After a warrant was issued, investigators reviewed evidence, including the 911 call, body camera footage, and interviews with witnesses and data from Liccione’s cell phone.
After consulting with investigators, Allen said it was determined that no probable cause existed to believe Liccione committed the crime.
The district attorney’s office said that it could take further action if more evidence appeared identifying Liccione as the person responsible.
