Andrew Kratz and Jacob Weichel are accused of animal cruelty for the incident March 13 at Weichel's rural Lincoln home.
LORI PILGER / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, July 10, 2009 12:00 am
The cases against two 17-year-olds accused of killing a cat will be heard in juvenile court.
Andrew Kratz and Jacob Weichel are accused of animal cruelty for the incident March 13 at Weichel's rural Lincoln home.
Their mothers testified at a Tuesday hearing before Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn that the teenagers are good kids, and their attorneys argued the cases should be handled in juvenile court because the boys have no criminal records, live at home with their parents and go to school.
The state argued against it, saying it came down to the act itself.
Sheriff's deputies alleged Weichel shot an adult male tabby cat with a bow and arrow on March 13 at his family's home northeast of Lincoln. The arrow went through the cat, but didn't kill it.
Then, they alleged, Kratz picked the cat up by the tail and hit it against a picnic table twice, then picked up a log and dropped it onto the cat. The cat died.
The allegations came out six days later, after the boys showed a cellphone video of the incident at Waverly High School, where they'll be seniors this fall.
At the end of Tuesday's hearing, Colborn took the request under advisement.
A day later, he issued an order moving the cases from adult to juvenile court, which could have jurisdiction over Kratz and Weichel until they turn 19.
"The determination that this matter should be transferred to juvenile court should in no way depreciate the seriousness of the crime alleged," the judge wrote.
He said it was a violent crime, perpetrated in a premeditated manner.
But, he said, the juvenile court has options available, including placement at the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney.
"The court must balance the best interest of the juvenile and the security of the public," Colborn wrote.
Reach Lori Pilger at 473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com.