Judge clears Gurnee man in cat shooting

A Gurnee man accused of shooting a neighborhood cat more than two years ago was found not guilty Tuesday at the end of the state's case against him.

Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti said even if she believed Sean Hand told a neighbor he did shoot Joshua the cat on July 9, 2005, there was nothing to prove Hand was telling the truth.

"A crime can not be proven based on a confession alone," Rossetti said in granting a defense motion for a directed verdict of not guilty.

"There must be independent corroborating evidence of the crime, and in this case, I cannot find any such evidence exists."

Hand, 42, of 3409 Florida Ave., was charged with animal cruelty, animal torture and criminal damage to property in the shooting and wounding of the cat.

He said after the verdict that he had faith in the justice system and he hoped the verdict would begin to heal the rift between his neighbors and himself.

"I pray through the almighty power of God that this neighborhood will be healed," Hand said. "I hope we all can live in peace."

Robert Sarver, Hand's next-door neighbor, testified Monday that Hand told him he had shot the cat in its left rear leg because he was tired of the cat trespassing in his yard.

Sarver's wife, Christine, also testified she had heard Hand make threatening statements about the cat on several occasions in the months leading up to the shooting.

Waukegan attorney Barry Boches did not dispute that the cat had been shot, but argued no one testified they saw Hand do it, and there had not even been any evidence Hand was at home at the time of the incident.

"We all had faith in the justice system," Boches said. "We were aware from day one there was no corroboration, and we are pleased that the judge saw it that way."