Teen torturers Daniel Carey and Nathan Weber see jail time reduced in Illinois plea deal after they assaulted and killed a raccoon with a SWORD for social media clicks
- The pair risked five years in prison, but will only serve 70 days after the settlement
- They used a garden rake, hammer and sword to torture raccoon to death before uploading the footage
Two teens who risked five years in prison for torturing a raccoon to death and sharing the footage on social media will serve less than 70 days after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
Daniel Carey and Nathan Weber, both 19, used a sword, garden rake and hammer to carry out their prolonged attack on the animal, causing it to “suffer in agony,” an Illinois court heard.
Both men were charged with animal torture and disorderly conduct, while Weber was also charged with portraying animal cruelty.
But most of their sentence will be spent working at a veterinary clinic or animal shelter after Judge Tiffany Davis accepts a plea deal in McHenry County Circuit Court.
“Nathan has done a lot of research, especially with the help of his parents,” Weber’s lawyer Brian Stevens told the Shaw Local News Network.
Nathan Weber pinned the animal down with a garden rake before killing it and uploading the footage
Daniel Carey repeatedly hit the animal on the head with a hammer, causing “extreme physical pain.”
The raccoon was said to have “suffered in agony” before finally being killed with a sword (stock photo)
The judge also noted this. She said it was important for him to take responsibility for his actions and for him to understand that what he was doing was wrong.”
The pair were arrested a month after carrying out the June 2022 attack near Carey’s home in the Chicago suburb of Huntley.
The video shows the men taking turns torturing the creature, with Weber holding it with a garden rake for an extended period of time before Carey steps in and repeatedly hits it on the head with a hammer.
The court was told the raccoon would have been in “extreme physical pain,” with the attack causing him to “suffer in agony.”
But the suffering continued as the men impaled themselves with a ‘saber-style sword or large knife’, eventually causing death.
Weber uploaded the snuff footage to social media and even sent it directly to some of his friends.
But it was another month before they were arrested after the explicit images began circulating online.
Under the plea deal, Carey had his two felonies reduced to one class A felony for cruelty to animals, while Weber had his felony pleaded to one class A felony for portraying animal cruelty.
Weber was sentenced to 10 days in prison, 240 hours of community service and two years of probation.
Carey was sentenced to 60 days in jail and 18 months probation, ordered to pay $1,239 in fines and fees and 240 hours of community service.
Circuit judge Tiffany Davis accepted the plea deal after Weber’s attorney Brian Stevens said his client was trying to be “a better person”
McHenry County Circuit Courthouse in Woodstock, Illinois
Both men were told their community service should take place at an “animal shelter, vet or other similar business.”
Stevens said Weber learned that he couldn’t just follow his friends and that he needed to make better decisions.
He said his client also went through a management training program, not just for court, but “to become a better person.”
Weber of Lake In The Hills was also ordered to have no contact with Carey.