Two 18-year-old men have pleaded not guilty to charges that they posted a video online of themselves stabbing a raccoon with a sword and hitting it with a hammer in Huntley.
Daniel A. Carey, 18, of the 11100 block of Grove Street in Huntley, was charged with two counts of animal torture, a Class 3 felony, and disorderly conduct, a Class A misdemeanor.
A second subject, Nathan P. Weber, 18, of the 3500 block of Sonoma Circle in Lake in the Hills, was charged with animal torture, depiction of animal cruelty and disorderly conduct.
Criminal complaints filed in McHenry County Circuit Court said that Carey and Weber both sent a video to numerous people through social media on June 11.
Carey was reportedly seen torturing a raccoon by stabbing it with a sword, causing it to become impaled, the complaint said.
Weber struck the raccoon several times with a garden rake while it was impaled by the sword, a separate complaint said.
Weber pinned the animal to the ground with the rake, causing it to suffer prolonged pain, the complaint said.
Carey then allegedly inflicted “extreme physical pain” by striking the raccoon in the head with a hammer.
He hit the raccoon with the hammer several times, causing the animal to “suffer in agony,” the complaint said.
A grand jury indictment said the raccoon died.
Both Carey and Weber were arrested by Huntley police officers and transported to the McHenry County Jail.
Both men were released from custody after posting 10% of their $20,000 bonds.
Carey and Weber, who were indicted by a grand jury late last month, appeared in court Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to their charges.
Weber is scheduled to appear in court for a status of preliminary hearing on July 29.
Carey is scheduled to appear in court on September 13 for a preliminary hearing.