A Los Angeles actor who killed his ex-girlfriend's pet rabbit before skinning, cooking, and eating the animal has been sentenced to three years probation, prosecutors said.
In Los Angeles County Superior Court on Friday, Dimitri Diatchenko, 47, pleaded no contest to one count of animal cruelty. A plea of 'no contest' means Diatchenko did not formally admit guilt, but accepted the prosecutor's allegations and was willing to accept criminal punishment.
On Dec. 6 last year, after Diatchenko had a fight with his ex-girlfriend when she told him they should no longer live together.
"After the roommate left the house. Diatchenko skinned the pet, cooked it and ate part of it, while sending her graphic photos of what he did," according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
The North Hollywood man was sentenced to three years formal probation, 60 days community labor, and 48 hours of animal cruelty counseling.
Diatchenko is a budding actor and is described on his website as "a powerful presence both on screen and off."
According to his IMDB profile, he has played small roles in Sons of Anarchy and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
In December last year, after news of the rabbit's death emerged, Diatchenko tweeted the words "not true."
Not true.
On Saturday, he tweeted a picture of his pet dog.
This is how I treat animals. My 7 year old bulldog I've had since she was 9 weeks old. Enough said.