By STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD / Staff Writer

A former University of Montevallo student, accused of killing and displaying several cats on the UM campus, was set to appear in court Aug. 5 for an arraignment, but the arraignment is being postponed and the case continued while the parties await his youthful offender status. A new court date has been set for Oct. 2.

Christian Todd Slaton, 20, who is charged with four counts of intentional animal torture, applied for the youthful offender status on June 4.

Youthful offender status would limit the length of his punishment and probation, and would restrict the information released to the public.

Slaton, who was 19 when the crimes occurred, was arrested by UM police and charged on Nov. 6, 2012. He was suspended from the university Oct. 31, 2012.

According to court documents, Slaton allegedly killed and “hung up for display” two cats near the flag pole in the middle of the quad at the UM; dismembered a cat found on the lawn of Flowerhill, the president’s mansion, at UM; and killed a cat later found in a wooded area near Falcon Manor Apartments in Montevallo. These incidents all allegedly occurred between Oct. 16-29, 2012.

Slaton is currently free on $5,000 bond. He was fired from a position with the Madison YMCA on April 3 after the animal cruelty charges were brought to the attention of YMCA staff members.