Huntley, Lake in the Hills teens accused of torturing raccoon, posting it on social media

Two McHenry County teenagers are charged with torturing a raccoon with a garden rake, hammer and sword, recording the animal in "agony" and posting it on social media, according to Huntley police and McHenry County prosecutors.

One of the teens, an 18-year-old Huntley man, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to charges alleging he stabbed the raccoon, beat it with a hammer and posted the video on social media.

Daniel Anthony Carey, of the 11100 block of Grove Street, is charged with two felony counts of animal torture and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, according to and indictment.

Should he be convicted of the most serious felonies, he faces up to five years in prison, one year of mandatory supervised release and $25,000 in fines.

He also would be required to undergo psychological or psychiatric evaluation and complete any treatment at his own expense.

Carey is accused of impaling a raccoon with a cutlass-style sword or large knife and "repeatedly" striking it with a hammer on June 11 in Huntley, "subjecting the animal to extreme physical pain, suffering or agony" and participating "in an offensive video" showing the animal being tortured. The video was then posted on social media.

Nathan P. Weber, 18, of the 3500 block of Sonoma Circle in Lake in the Hills, also is charged in connection with the animal's abuse.

On Friday, Weber was pleaded not guilty to felony animal torture, as well as misdemeanor disorderly conduct and depicting animal cruelty.

The indictment alleges that Weber struck the animal with a garden rake while it was impaled with a sword or large knife.

He also is accused of participating in making the video of the animal being tortured and sharing it on social media.

If convicted of the felony, Weber faces the same possible consequences as Carey.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Weber's attorney, Brian Stevens, said it is still early in his investigation but that, based on conversations he has had with Weber and his family, "certainly these allegations are not in line with Nathan's character."

"We do anticipate we will be presenting significant mitigation to the court regarding Nathan Weber," Stevens said.

Attempts to reach Carey's attorney, Michael McNerney, were not immediately successful.

Carey is due back in court on Oct. 25, and Weber is due back in court on Oct. 20.