POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Pompano Beach man is behind bars on an animal cruelty charge after authorities say he stabbed a python 19 times.

Jail records show 38-year-old Roy Strickland was arrested Tuesday on a charge of causing cruel death, pain and suffering to an animal. He’s being without bond. It wasn’t immediately known if he has an attorney.

An arrest report states Strickland stabbed a friend’s ball python 19 times, leaving the knife inside the reptile. He told deputies the snake was evil.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that during his court appearance Wednesday, Broward County Judge John Hurley said the snake died a slow death, and “it does seem like the violence was gratuitous.”

The investigation continues.

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