By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

A Shelby County grand jury has indicted a former University of Montevallo student on four counts of intentional animal torture after Christian Todd Slaton was arrested on charges of killing and displaying several cats on the UM campus.

Slaton, 20, 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.

The charges were filed on April 5, according to court documents.

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.

Slaton last appeared in court on Feb. 6. He will next be in court on June 5 for an arraignment.