NYC wannabe rapper accused of torturing, killing stray cat indicted on animal cruelty charges: DA

The wannabe rapper accused of torturing a stray cat to death and bragging about it in a sick Satanic ritual last year was indicted on animal cruelty charges, prosecutors said Tuesday.

David Mosley, 26 โ€“ who goes by the alias Church of Ububal โ€“ was arraigned on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and torturing and injuring animals during a Tuesday appearance before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas, the Bronx District Attorneyโ€™s Office said.

Mosley pleaded not guilty in the callous act that sparked outrage after he posted a photo of the dead cat, lying motionless in a pool of blood, to his now-deleted Instagram account on Oct. 22, prosecutors said.

Photos showing David claiming his latest Instagram posting of a dead cat ritual was ๐’ป๐’ถ๐“€๐‘’. 4

David Mosley, 26 โ€“ who goes by the alias Church of Ububal โ€“ was arraigned on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and torturing and injuring animals Tuesday, the DAโ€™s Office said.Youtube / CHURCHOFUBUBAL

Mosely allegedly posted a photo of the dead cat, lying motionless in a pool of blood, to his now-deleted Instagram account on Oct. 22.4

Mosely allegedly posted a photo of the dead cat, lying motionless in a pool of blood, to his now-deleted Instagram account on Oct. 22.Youtube / CHURCHOFUBUBAL

Less than two weeks earlier, he posted a photo of himself with the cat โ€“ which was still living at the time, the DAโ€™s office said.

Surveillance footage reviewed by detectives also shows Mosley carrying the doomed feline into his apartment for the first time on Oct. 9, prosecutors said.

In his own defense, Mosley claimed he found the cat after it died, according to the DAโ€™s office.

Wannabe Bronx rapper David Mosley, 26, is escorted by Court Officers into Bronx Criminal Court on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.4

Mosely, a wannabe rapper, pleaded not guilty to the cruel act Tuesday.Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

Mosley also defended his actions in a livestream video posted to YouTube, claiming the social media stunt was simply a sick joke โ€” and in the same breath, taunted animal lovers.

The Devil-worshipping sacrifice was an apparent effort to hype his upcoming rap album rollout.

In a harshly worded courtroom vow in November, Judge Linda Poust Lopez told Mosley she would โ€œnot approve a plea deal on the animal cruelty charge unless it is the maximum sentence on that charge.โ€

Guardian Angels founder and frequent mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa was among those calling for a stiff penalty for Mosley.4

Guardian Angels founder and frequent mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa was among those calling for a stiff penalty for Mosley.Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post

She then urged Mosley to โ€œfollow up on your mental health appointments.โ€

The animal cruelty charge carries a two-year sentence โ€“ which Lopez made clear she wants.

โ€œThis defendant is accused of the torture of a stray cat that he took into his home,โ€ Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said in a statement. โ€œThe defendantโ€™s alleged ๐“ˆ๐’ฝ๐“ธ๐’ธ๐“€๐’พ๐“ƒ๐‘” behavior included posting images of a dead cat on social media and bragging about what he had allegedly done.โ€

Mosley is due back in court on March 17.