On August 25, 2005, the Cook County Sheriff's Department arrested William A Buske for aggravated animal cruelty in the death of a kitten on August 23, 2005. Buske allegedly kicked and stomped the kitten before throwing it into moving traffic.
Case Updates| Sentenced to six months in jail � and 100 hours of community service in an animal shelter when he gets out. He was convicted of felony aggravated cruelty for killing the cat. Judge John Scotillo handed down the sentence at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse on March 23, 2006. | Source: Chicago Sun Times - March 23, 2006
Update posted on Mar 24, 2006 - 9:07PM |
A Cook County jury deliberated for nearly three hours Thursday before convicting a Des Plaines man of felony aggravated animal cruelty for kicking a neighbor girl's nine-week-old kitten to death last year.
The seven-woman, five-man jury rejected a lesser misdemeanor charge and convicted 34-year-old William Buske of the more serious felony offense that carries a maximum three-year prison sentence.
Buske, who testified during the two-day trial that he hadn't meant to harm the orange, tiger-striped cat, lowered his head briefly and looked stunned when the verdict was delivered Thursday night.
His attorney said Buske, a construction worker, was "very upset'' by the verdict.
"I don't believe he intended to kill the cat,'' said Assistant Public Defender Joseph Gump, adding that at most Buske should have been convicted of a misdemeanor animal mistreatment charge.
"That would have been the right outcome,'' Gump said.
Buske, who spent 50 days in Cook County Jail before he could post bail after his arrest, left the courtroom without commenting. But when asked if he was surprised by the verdict, he replied: "A little bit.''
Several jurors appeared upset as their verdict was read in the Rolling Meadows courtroom. At least one woman juror cried as jurors were polled about the verdict.
Outside the courtroom, only the jury foreman offered a brief comment on the case. "I think we made the right decision,'' said the foreman, who didn't want to be identified.
Buske was charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he kicked 14-year-old Cheyenne Reyna's kitten to death last Aug. 23 in the Oasis Mobile Home Park near Des Plaines.
Prosecutors argued that after picking up "Orangie,'' Buske threw the cat to the ground and then "kicked it down the street.''
"We're pleased with the outcome of this case. We think the facts supported the verdict,'' said Assistant State's Attorney Richard Karwaczka, who with Michael Andre prosecuted Buske.
Buske was working on his trailer in the mobile home park last August when the kitten approached him, Gump said. Buske picked up the animal, but quickly dropped it when the kitten scratched him, then kicked at the cat to scare it away, Gump contended.
Cheyenne Reyna, who lived in the park near Buske, testified that when she questioned Buske about her kitten's death, he replied the cat shouldn't have been on his property.
Gump plans to ask that Buske, who remains free on bail, be placed on probation when he is sentenced next month. | Source: Chicago Sun-Times - Feb 24, 2006
Update posted on Feb 25, 2006 - 10:14AM |
A Des Plaines man faces up to three years in prison for allegedly kicking a kitten to death.
William Buske, 34, lives in the Oasis Mobile Home Park, 7500 Elmhurst Rd. Police charged him with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony, for his alleged actions on Aug. 23, 2005. He allegedly picked up a 9-week-old kitten named Orangie, spiked it to the ground, and kicked it down the street. The animal was allegedly on his property when he attacked it.
The owner of the kitten is a 14-year-old girl who also lives in the trailer park. On Aug. 23, she was returning from dinner with friends when she found her cat lying bloodied and dead in front of Buske's home. She ran home to check on Orangie, found he was missing, and realized her pet was dead in the street.
Buske requested a jury trial on his charge. He and the girl testified about the case in the Cook County Court in Rolling Meadows on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Jury deliberations were expected on Thursday, Feb. 23. | Source: Journal and Topics - Feb 24, 2006
Update posted on Feb 24, 2006 - 8:51PM |
Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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