Teens Accused Of Stabbing Raccoon, Striking Animal With Hammer

HUNTLEY, IL — Two local teens face animal torture charges for accusations they pinned a raccoon to the ground using a sword and then beat the animal with a hammer and gardening rake. The animal died following the attack, police said.

Nathan Weber, 18, of the 3000 block of Sonoma Circle in Lake in the Hills, and Daniel Carey, 18, of the 11000 block of Grove Street in Huntley, both face a felony count of animal torture and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct in connection with the June incident, which occurred in Huntley, according to a criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court.

Carey is accused of stabbing the raccoon with a sword, causing it to become impaled, and then proceeding to hit the raccoon in the head with a hammer several times, according to a criminal complaint.

The stabbing caused the animal "extreme pain" and the repeated blows by the hammer made the raccoon "suffer in agony," according to court records. Weber is accused of striking the raccoon with a garden rake several times while it was pinned to the ground with a sword, "causing it to suffer with prolonged pain."

A video showing the men torturing the animal was shared with several people over social media, according to the criminal complaint.

Bail was set at $20,000 for both Carey and Weber, and both men have since been released from jail after posting their required bond, according to online jail records.

Weber is next expected in court on Oct. 20 for a status hearing, and Carey is set to appear for a status hearing on Oct. 25.