A Reno man accused of severely abusing and killing a kitten in San Francisco is now facing additional animal cruelty charges, as new details have emerged about two kittens he reportedly adopted shortly before his arrest.

William Ohlson, 33, allegedly adopted two three-month-old kittens, Haven and Nola, through the Biggest Little Cat Rescue’s adoption program at a PetSmart in Reno.

According to the rescue organization, Ohlson reportedly said on the adoption paperwork that the kittens were intended as a surprise birthday gift for his girlfriend, Lindsay Maillo.

However, the rescue group said that within days of the adoption, one of the kittens, Haven, was found abandoned inside a carrier in a dumpster near Ohlson’s residence in Reno.

Laura Herbst, Director of Communications and Animal Advocacy for The Biggest Little Cat Rescue, said representatives from Washoe County Regional Animal Services later informed the organization that Ohlson was reportedly on the agency’s “Do Not Adopt” list.

Haven has since been adopted by another family.

The developments come as Ohlson faces allegations connected to the death of another kitten in San Francisco. Authorities allege that he violently abused a small kitten inside an ATM vestibule in the 1800 block of Market Street at around 2 a.m. on July 1.

After allegedly missing a scheduled court appearance, a judge reportedly issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Authorities later took Ohlson into custody following a standoff at a residence in downtown Reno last Thursday. He is currently being held at the Washoe County Detention Center on charges related to allegedly resisting an officer and failing to comply with a court order.

Court records also show a lengthy history of previous legal cases and multiple failures to appear in court. His earlier cases, dating from 2016 through 2024, reportedly involved drug-related, property, and other charges.

According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Ohlson previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to a charge involving an attempt to kill or torture a white kitten at a Walmart. He later entered a court-supervised drug rehabilitation program.

He also reportedly has two other open criminal cases, one dating back to early 2022 and another filed in April 2025.

In the latest case filed in July 2026, Ohlson is facing three new charges involving alleged animal abuse or killing, animal neglect, and obstruction of police.

The case has drawn renewed attention to questions surrounding the adoption process and how individuals with previous animal cruelty allegations are able to obtain custody of vulnerable animals.

The investigation and legal proceedings remain ongoing, and the allegations have not yet been proven in court.