KU student faces animal cruelty charge in dog’s death

Cem Basoflas, left, has been accused of sodomizing and killing a dog. Basoflas made his first appearance in court Friday from the Douglas County Jail.

A felony animal cruelty charge was filed Friday afternoon against Cem Basoflas, a 20-year-old Kansas University international student.

Prosecutors said more charges could be filed in the case. Police said it involves a dead dog and may include other animals.

“This is a very serious case,” Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said in a news release.

Basoflas, a KU physics major from Istanbul, Turkey, was arrested Wednesday at his apartment in the 2100 block of Heatherwood Drive, near Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive.

Police officers were called to the apartment by maintenance personnel regarding suspicious activity. A large amount of blood was found, police Sgt. Bill Cory said.

A dog believed to be the victim in the case has been found, but it wasn’t in the apartment, Cory said. He declined to say where it was found.

Prosecutors accuse Basoflas of “extreme violence on at least two animals.”

Basoflas, a KU sophomore, has another pending case of felony animal cruelty in district court, stemming from an alleged incident on Aug. 16. In both cases, he’s charged with one count of intentionally and maliciously killing, injuring, maiming, torturing, burning or mutilating any animal.

During a Jan. 26 arraignment hearing, Basoflas pleaded not guilty to the August charge, according to court records, which also indicated he posted a $1,500 bond.

Basoflas is being held in Douglas County Jail after this week’s arrest. District Judge Pro Tem Jim George set his bond at $12,000 on Friday.

If Basoflas posts bond, George ordered him not to contact or possess animals and to surrender his passport.

Basoflas’ next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 24.