One of three family members at their Thornton pet store pleaded guilty Wednesday in Adams County to animal cruelty, court records show.
Brian James Kubic, 22, was originally accused of 38 counts in the case, 37 of which were dropped with Wednesday’s plea, according to the records.
The animal cruelty charge Kubic pleaded guilty to is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Kubic was charged alongside 61-year-old Kenneth Mark Kubic and 54-year-old Lynn Denise Kubic for actions at their shop, Jurassic Pets.
Kenneth Cubic has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts in the case and is set for a two-day trial in May, according to court records. Lynn Denise also pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in June.
A clerk who answered the phone Wednesday at Jurassic Pets said the owners were too busy to comment.
The abuse investigation, which culminated in December 2014 with Thornton police executing a search warrant on the business at 10380 Washington St., was prompted by an investigation conducted by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
PETA says Brian Kubic was a manager at Jurassic Pets, which was owned by his parents, Kenneth and Lynn.
The animal rights group claimed the store’s staff attempted to kill domestic mice and rats by “whacking them against surfaces.” PETA also said rodents and reptiles at Jurassic Pets were frozen alive and were routinely denied water.
The group of the alleged abuse on its website.
Brian Kubic is set to be sentenced in the case on June 6.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
