By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – A former University of Montevallo student charged with four counts of animal cruelty first degree faced a preliminary hearing in Shelby County Circuit Judge Dan Reeves’ courtroom Feb. 6.

Nineteen-year-old Christian Todd Slaton, who was wearing thick-rimmed glasses, gray sweater and open-neck, white dress shirt, sat in the court room, but did not have to speak with Reeves, as his lawyer spoke to the judge for Slaton.

The case was bound over to a grand jury, according to Criminal Court Supervisor Jill Smitherman.

In October 2012, Slaton allegedly dismembered, skinned and “hung up for display” cats on the University of Montevallo campus, according to court documents.

Slaton was arrested by University of Montevallo Police and charged Nov. 6. Slaton posted bond from the Shelby County Jail the same day in the amount of $20,000.

Slaton was suspended from the University of Montevallo Oct. 31.