A former Fairfield official who served time for abusing cats and threatening police returned to Bridgeport Superior Court Wednesday where he admitted to multiple counts of violating his probation. Ray Neuberger, 41, of Easton, is currently in federal custody but was in state court for the companion case.

On Dec. 18, Neuberger pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening Fairfield police officers last April. At the time, he was on probation for killing one cat, torturing another, and threatening police. A condition of that release was to stay away from the department unless for lawful purposes.

On Wednesday morning, Neuberger conceded his actions violated his probation.

"Do you admit or deny?" asked Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Maura Coyne three separate times.

“I admit,” Neuberger responded to each.

According to court documents, on April 24, Neuberger was in his vehicle and stopped in the middle of an intersection near a marked police car. Neuberger allegedly began screaming, cursing and giving the middle finger to that officer before driving off. Police said about 10 minutes later, as that officer was driving back to the police department, he spotted Neuberger parked across from the department, where he continued to yell profanities at that officer.

After that, Neuberger began calling the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center, his arrest warrant said. “He relayed that his mother had a heart attack and tried to commit suicide because of the Fairfield Police Department and said something to the effect that, ‘If anything happens to my mother, it isn’t anyone’s fault, but the Fairfield Police Department’s fault and I’m coming. You better [expletive] hope it doesn’t happen,’” according to the warrant. It stated Neuberger displayed paranoid behavior, claiming that off-duty cops, on-duty cops, federal agents and marshals were following his every move. He also allegedly threatened the two detectives who investigated his prior cases, saying he’s coming for them if anything happens to his parents. “He stated he doesn’t give a [expletive] about probation or a high bond or being in jail,” and police are going to “need the national guard to stop him,” according to the warrant.

During the calls, Neuberger allegedly sent texts to a member of the Fairfield Police Commission, making additional threats. The warrant said those included, “I’m going to kill all the Fairfield cops brutally,” “On duty, off duty…there’s going to be multiple 21-gun salutes if they don’t knock it off. I’m not [expletive] around. Tell them to leave me the [expletive] alone. I’m armed,” and “Tell Fairfield PD I’m close to snapping.”

In court, Neuberger nodded his head at times as Coyne outlined the facts behind the violation of probation charges.

When the judge asked if Neuberger agreed with the summary, he responded, "I believe I more than violated it.”

Neuberger faces a maximum sentence of 55 months for the violations but won’t be sentenced until after he is in the federal case, which likely won't be until June. Neuberger faces up to five years there.

“Suffice to say, he is very remorseful and very embarrassed to be in the position that he's in right now, and I think he made that clear,” said Neuberger’s attorney John Gulash after court.

Gulash said his client previously was in treatment for substance abuse and psychiatric issues and will return to treatment in federal custody.

In Neuberger's prior case, he pleaded guilty to threatening and two counts of felony animal cruelty. On Dec. 7, 2023, he was sentenced to six years in prison, suspended after he served 17 months, followed by four years of probation. The animal cruelty convictions involved his then-girlfriend's cats—one he doused in bleach and beat to death, the other he burned with chemicals, causing serious injuries and its tail to be amputated. Not long after those arrests, police arrested him for threatening the detective on those cases.

Neuberger’s history with Fairfield police began in 2018 when he was first charged with animal cruelty for allegedly abusing his ex-fiancé’s two dogs. Police said he poured boiling water on one and broke the other’s ribs. He served 43 days in jail and had to make a $25,000 donation to the Bridgeport Animal Shelter, then was granted accelerated rehabilitation, a probation program that allowed the charges to be dismissed and his record to remain clean.

Neuberger previously served on the town's Representative Town Meeting.