Man arrested for stabbing snake 19 times

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A Pompano Beach man is behind bars on an animal cruelty charge after authorities say he stabbed a python 19 times.

Jail records show 38-year-old Roy Strickland was arrested Tuesday on a charge of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to an animal. He's being held without bond. It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney.

An arrest report states Strickland stabbed a friend's ball python 19 times, leaving the knife inside the reptile. He told deputies the snake was evil.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that during his court appearance Wednesday, Broward County Judge John Hurley said the snake died a slow death, and "it does seem like the violence was gratuitous."

The investigation continues.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)