ELKO, Nev. (AP) -- A 21-year-old Elko man who pleaded guilty to attempted animal mutilation after he admitted hacking a cat to death with a sword has been ordered to spend six months at a boot camp in southern Nevada.


Police say Rory White was keeping one of the cat's eyes in a jar at his home when they arrested him for killing the orange-and-white feline in July 2012.


Elko County District Judge Al Kacin (KAY'-sihn) described it as an "ugly," "awful" case. But the Elko Daily Free Press reports he agreed to defer sentencing after prosecutors concurred with White's lawyer's suggestion Monday that he be sent to the Department of Corrections camp in Indian Springs.


Public defender Brian Green says White "made some mistakes," but is a good candidate for the rehabilitation program.