LA Firefighter Found Guilty Of Beating Woman Who Was Feeding Stray Cats

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles firefighter was convicted Thursday of beating a woman who was feeding stray cats in their neighborhood.

A jury deliberated for less than two hours before finding 39-year-old Ian Justin Eulian guilty of one count each of battery with serious bodily injury and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said.

A mistrial was declared on Sept. 30, 2014, the first time the case went to trial when jurors told a judge they were hopelessly deadlocked – split 7-5 for guilt on one count against Eulian and 6-6 on the other.

Eulian had approached Rebecca Stafford on Sept. 14, 2013 as she sat in her parked car, then leaned in and yelled at her about feeding the stray cats. When she threw cat kibble at him, Eulian punched her twice, then pulled her out of the car and hit her again as she fell to the ground, where the 47-year-old  woman lay unconscious.

Video played at the trial showed the attack, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Eulian, who faces up to seven years in state prison, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 30.

In 2005 Eulian spoke to Men's Health Magazine about attaining great abs and appeared as a finalist in a Fittest Firefighter contest sponsored by the magazine. TV.com also says he appeared as himself in a 2005 episode of "Fear Factor."