Defense granted delay in kitten blow dart death pretrial

Note: This report contains graphic images that may not be appropriate for sensitive viewers. Reader and parental discretion advised.

ST. GEORGE– A 16-year-old boy from St. George appeared in 5th District Juvenile Court Monday just long enough for his attorney to ask the judge to postpone his pretrial conference. The teen is facing animal cruelty charges for allegedly shooting and killing a kitten with a blowgun.

The teen’s attorney, Brian Shelley, said after receiving the State’s offer, the defense would like an appropriate amount of time to file a notion on the matter.

“We anticipate that this should reach a resolution,” Shelley said in court. “We have a handful of witnesses that we are planning on calling at trial but, once again, I believe we could get this matter resolved before then.”

Washington County Prosecutor Angela Adams, prosecuting this case, said she is not at liberty to say what offer was made for resolution because it is part of plea negotiations.

Judge Michael Leavitt, of the 5th District Juvenile Court, rescheduled the teen’s pretrial conference to Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.

The cat lays with the darts in its head, St. George, Utah, June 20, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Lee Webb, St. George News
The cat lays with the darts in its head, St. George, Utah, June 20, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Lee Webb, St. George News

The teen faces third-degree felony charges for the killing of a companion animal after allegedly killing the kitten on June 20.

St. George resident Lee Webb discovered the kitten.

Just outside the backdoor of Webb’s home, the kitten lay dead with two 6-inch darts – sharpened spikes made of steel with plastic ends – protruding from its head. At first, Webb said he thought the cat was fake, but then he touched the cat and found it to still be warm.

Previous to this incident, Webb said he found additional darts laying in his backyard which he had suspected were aimed at his dog, but his dog was never hit. Webb immediately called animal control.

Animal control and St. George Police investigated this incident and questioned people in the area. Upon talking with a 16-year-old boy, police found probable cause and arrested the teen for animal cruelty charges, St. George Police Sgt. Sam Despain said.

“This is not a common thing here,” Despain said. “We take crimes against animals very serious.”

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19 Comments

  • The Rest Of The Story October 7, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Why does a kitten get its day in court, but not a baby that was baked to death?
    And let’s organize a fundraiser for the 16 yr old.

    • Meow Mix October 7, 2014 at 10:47 am

      Or for the kitten’s mother.

  • make him pay October 7, 2014 at 10:10 am

    Sick little freak.

  • voice of reason October 7, 2014 at 10:26 am

    Anyone else notice not all the comments are showing up?
    Any explanation as to why?

  • robert October 7, 2014 at 10:38 am

    gay and lesbian couples will never be equal because the laws of God/ science prohibit these couples from natural reproduction. This LGBT community will find it difficult to overturn that eternal law and principle. God set that law in the beginning of existence and it doesn’t look like He is changing it.

  • Sarcasm October 7, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Hey hey hey! Hold your judgement people! This poor innocent child cannot be held accountable for his actions. Remember- 16 is still a child in the eyes of the law. He is not yet mentally capable of making adult decisions- and therefore the resultant consequences-of his actions.
    We need to treat this poor child as a victim of ‘temporary lapse of judgement’. I’m sure he’s a very good kid,, with a big heart, and might even have been too tired to realize what he was doing.
    I suggest we treat him the same way the teenage kidnappers were treated in Santa Clara: a very stern warning , and maybe some probation for a month or two. Then, we need to have a #fundraiser for this poor child’s legal defense. I’ve started one at GOFUNDME/heisaninnocentchild. Com

  • Bobber October 7, 2014 at 12:52 pm

    Y’all forget that cat butcher is still loose up in springdale…

    • Ynot October 7, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      That is the one that should NEVER be put on the back burner. As calculated and evil as that was is just beyond comprehension!

  • Dave Rabbitt October 7, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    It’s been 109 days since this incident, but the lawyer needs extra time, to figure out a way to get the charges reduced? Did this kid’s parents wait until the last possible moment, to hire an attorney? Or, is this just another classic example of Mormon Standard Time?

  • sagemoon October 7, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    Scum bag.

  • Dana October 7, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    It’s a standard Utah ploy. Look at how many times Gov. Herbie and his sock puppet Reyes asked for delays. And that went on for months to the tune of MILLION$.

  • Normal Civilian October 7, 2014 at 5:13 pm

    It is a cat.. Who cares..

  • Bobber October 7, 2014 at 7:16 pm

    Get ur wallets out $$$ chaching$$$
    ,,,
    GOFUNDME.COM/EvenPerfectLittleLDSboysKillcats

  • Stud October 8, 2014 at 9:03 am

    Sad but one fine shot send the person to hunt down isis

    • Dana October 8, 2014 at 10:05 am

      Are you kidding? This little …* would wet himself having to go against someone or something that fought back. Look at how he is hiding behind his mama’s skirts.This is how serial killers get their start…
      Ed. ellipsis: …*

  • Anonymous October 9, 2014 at 11:32 am

    This should be taken seriously! This 16 year olds actions should not be dismissed or discounted because he’s still a “child”! He’s not 2; he’s 16! To say he is not mentally capable of making adult decisions, is incomprehensible! Remind me again, the age at which you can obtain a drivers license….oh, right, 16! Is it fair to say that when you drive, you’re required to “make adult decisions”? Studies have been shown/proven how animal abuse is inextricably linked to arson, rape, and murder. Psychological profiles indicate that animal abusers compensate for the worthlessness of their life by being cruel to animals, i.e. classic displacement behavior. He should not get let off easily.

    • Sarcasm October 9, 2014 at 7:02 pm

      Nope, he is a child doing kid things. Just like the kidnappers- I mean, pranksters- that threw the girl in the trunk of a car in Santa Clara.
      Just a simple probation will do for this young boy!

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