Paul Joseph Wicker, 40, of Boyne City, was arraigned this morning in the 90th District Court on a misdemeanor charge of cruelty to an animal and a felony charge of threatening to kill or injure a witness.  Wicker’s bond was set at $50,000.

Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Muniak authorized the charges which carry maximum penalties of 93 days in jail and 15 years in prison, respectively.

Wicker is accused of trapping and spraying painting a stray cat.  The cat also had a damaged tail which later had to be amputated.  According to an affidavit signed by Sheriff Don Schneider, a witness in the animal cruelty case was threatened by Wicker the day after she spoke with police.

He allegedly said of the witness, “I want her dead” or “I’m going to kill her.”

Wicker has a pretrial on the misdemeanor case and probable cause conference on the felony case, both on November 3, 2015.  A preliminary examination is scheduled for November 10.