GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – A man was sentenced Tuesday for stomping a raccoon to death.
David Pennell of Muskegon was sentenced to spend one year in jail.
In the summer of 2012, Pennell shook a raccoon out of a tree, then stomped it to death. He then went to the internet bragging about what he had just done to the animal. He even posted the video for the world to see. Authorities were able to use that video to charge Pennell.
“If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t have done it, sir,” Pennell said to the judge in court Tuesday. “I am deeply apologetic for what has been done. I am a loving and care guy and now I have a fiance who is four months pregnant and I want nothing more in this world than to be there for her and our child.”
Pennell’s mother defended him in the case, saying that his dog had already attacked that raccoon. She said it needed to be put down so it wouldn’t hurt anyone.
Still, the judge couldn’t find reasons to agree with Pennell’s actions.
“Nobody told you to put this on the Internet,” Judge Hicks said. “That really troubles me because it seems like you want people to know about this. Maybe you’re taking some pride in the way this happened.”
Along with spending a year in jail, Pennell will not be allowed to use social media.
62 Comments to “Man Sentenced For Stomping Raccoon To Death”
January 22, 2013 at 6:23 PM
so if the raccoon were to kill the man, would the raccoon be put in jail for a year and lose his social networking and media rights?
this is ridiculous
January 22, 2013 at 8:30 PM
Umm the raccoon is an animal and can't be incarcarated, and the raccoon does not use social media. Did you not know this?
What other argument do you have besides the asinine one you just used?
January 22, 2013 at 9:35 PM
Yeah Walker must be mentally disabled – Raccoons can't even read I highly doubt they can use computers. Plus he can't even pay for his jail stay because raccoons can't have normal jobs. Maybe it's actually Walker who should lose social media rights – rather than come online and say stupid shit.
January 22, 2013 at 11:00 PM
Nice… there's always the people out there that haven't cracked a smile since '89 because they don't enjoy a little sarcasm.
Well here's me being far too literal than BoogerPowell… a raccoon is an animal and cant be incarcerated ? What is a human then? A plant?
Thanks Mr. Literal… I've got some knock knock jokes too if you need a good laugh in your life
January 23, 2013 at 4:12 AM
If the raccoon killed someone, or even just bit him a few times it would be put to death.
January 25, 2013 at 10:41 PM
no–any animal that kills a human is typical put to death–often without a trial at all.
January 22, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Really what was the crime? It's illegal to kill racoons??
January 23, 2013 at 4:14 AM
It is illegal to kill for no reason other than entertainment, someone who does that is not totally right in the head.
January 22, 2013 at 6:35 PM
If the animal needed to be put down, he should have brought it to the attention of the correct authorities. It is cruel to beat an animal to death, regardless of what kind it is.
January 22, 2013 at 11:05 PM
Wow really, it's called saving a bullet. Coons carry rabies and are pests. You peta/liberal/ant-gun whiners get on my nerves. It's a stupid coon and our tax money shouldn't be locking this guy up for it. I mean all this money we waste on sentencing like this could go to education, shelters, etc. I guess next time you step on a bug you should go to jail lol since you didn't call the proper authorities (pest control) LMAO
January 24, 2013 at 6:19 PM
Spencer, do you really equate the accidental crushing of a bug with the deliberate killing of an animal for what were obviously only sadistic reasons? If someone were to regard you as a stupid person and bodily injure you, would you still consider it a waste of tax money to penalize them?
January 22, 2013 at 6:42 PM
You can tell a lot about a man by observing how he treats animals.
January 22, 2013 at 6:44 PM
The point is, the guy intentionally shook it out of the tree for the purpose of stomping it. That is inhumane as is but to brag your actions on the internet is a little demented. The judge did the right thing. If this was a dog or cat or any other type of pet…*h*t would hit the fan. Cruelty toward any animal is not right. Besides, now that he has been caught he is sorry. And now that he is going to be a daddy is all the more reason to be a little more cautious. Don't like my reasoning, tough toenails.
January 22, 2013 at 6:45 PM
I don't think this was okay but just to put it in perspective why is their no jail time for killing unborn babies? It makes no sense!! Are they not more precious than a raccoon?
January 22, 2013 at 9:38 PM
Nobody is stomping on unborn children _ I bet if someone was to stomp on someones unborn childthere would be some jail time involved
January 23, 2013 at 12:44 AM
no, but they sure are ripping their arms and heads and legs off….but like Sherri says, THAT is Ok…
January 24, 2013 at 2:53 PM
Well I mean we eat beef.. wouldn't that also then be murder? What about chicken murder!
January 22, 2013 at 7:19 PM
His fiance better run very fast and very far! Any person who would do this to a defenseless animal will not even think twice about hurting someone who is hurting or threatening him.
January 25, 2013 at 6:06 PM
That shows your ignorance Marilyn.I used to trap these animals (animals) for money when I was a kid,does this make me a women beater? 50 million babies have been murdered in this country since 1974, That marilyn is a crime.
January 22, 2013 at 7:28 PM
Feeling sorry for the unborn child.
January 22, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Sick bastard !
January 22, 2013 at 7:32 PM
As disgusting as his actions were….there have been 40 years of the legalized killing of humans most vulnerable and defenseless…the unborn. As long as America can turn a blind eye to this horrific practice don't expect a huge response from be when it comes to killing a raccoon. I believe all life is precious, but an unborn child does top a raccoon.
January 22, 2013 at 8:31 PM
Abortion is different than stomping a newborn to death
January 22, 2013 at 9:19 PM
cutting a fetus apart, then vacuming body parts out is different than stomping on a fricken coon!
January 22, 2013 at 9:44 PM
How people get unborn children and abortion politics out of a animal cruelty sentencing is beyond me – It's scary to be honest, pretty scary that there are people out there that naturally tie these together.
January 23, 2013 at 4:21 AM
It's tottaly natural to tie one murder and another murder together. I think it's pretty scary that some people can have the brain sucked out of their own flesh and blood and feel fine about it.
February 6, 2013 at 11:19 PM
Bonnie, why is everyone talking about unborn children? Of course a child is more important but that is not the topic of this discussion. Just because people are commenting here about how obnoxious this guy's actions were against wildlife – you can't just make an assumption that nobody cares about babies! Geesh!
January 22, 2013 at 8:47 PM
This is not right. I was attacked by a raccoon and had to go through rabies shots a few years ago. They are very ferocious animals. They are not the cute little guys they look like. If that coon was harassing them, and on his property, he should have every right to do what he did.
January 23, 2013 at 4:25 AM
The racoon was in a tree, he was harrassing the coon, and you can't talk about property in regards to other species, if you think a human can have property rights over other animals then logically it should work the other way around, and that would now mean we owe a lot of reparation to the rest of the animal kingdom for their property we took.
January 25, 2013 at 10:48 PM
Come on–this racoon was UP A TREE–it had RAN away and climbed a tree it was not attacking this man. There is a conclusive link between people that hurt animals and people who hurt people. It is NOT ok to stomp frightened little critters to death, video it, post it, then chuckle with pride about how merciless you were.
February 6, 2013 at 11:21 PM
Not in the manner he did it. Raccoons will defend themselves if trapped or cornered. Can you blame them?
January 22, 2013 at 8:54 PM
The raccoon was killing chickens and eggs on the farm, the dog attacked it and the raccoon ran up a tree. It was already injured and due to a previous felony no guns or weapons are allowed in the home. If you call dnr or animal people they will not come get a raccoon off your property. Would u rather it suffer and possibly hurt someone or be put out of its misery. Glad to know my tax paying money is being wasted.
January 23, 2013 at 2:50 PM
"due to a previous felony no guns or weapons are allowed in the home" Omg, really? That, right there, says a lot about this guy… So does the fact that he put it on the internet to brag about it. His fiancée had better turn tail and run. This guy is going to beat on her and probably his own kid, too. What a sick person.
January 25, 2013 at 10:55 PM
Racoons do not get foodstamps or rent vendored they must forage and hunt to LIVE. It is ridiculous to kill an indiginus animal because you did NOT take the right precautions to safe guard your chickens and eggs. Killing any animal that shows a natural instict to survive is not merely ignorant it is wasteful, and lazy.
January 22, 2013 at 9:16 PM
WOW, Kelly Boos killed a man last April here in Grand Rapids and she barely did 6 months so I guess you have to kill animals to get any kind of sentence.
January 22, 2013 at 9:34 PM
You guys dont even know the real story so none of you have room to talk shit about him, his fiance or his family unless you know what happened. He’s actually a really freakin awesome person to be around
January 22, 2013 at 9:40 PM
Unless you're a racoon.
January 22, 2013 at 9:41 PM
Racoon now, child later perhaps?
January 22, 2013 at 10:18 PM
You people are dumb he aint gonna hurt his kid
January 22, 2013 at 11:13 PM
Well said!!! Thanks
January 25, 2013 at 11:05 PM
A previous felony? Hmmmnn how surprising. Did you know that people who hurt animals and I'm not talking about a mercy kill or hunting but those who take frustrations out on them or those who enjoy torturing them usually end up harming people as well as animals? Sometimes you can know a person a long time without really knowing them and that is the truth.
January 22, 2013 at 10:20 PM
You people are dumb he aint gonna hurt his kid
January 22, 2013 at 11:01 PM
who aint dumb?
January 22, 2013 at 11:11 PM
lol don't listen to these ignorant people. It's a dumb coon and we kill em all the time in Oklahoma. The ppl commenting here are the ones who voted for our current administration. This guys jail time is a waste of tax money. If I were yal I'd contact a good lawyer who's looking for political gains because he could argue this is why jails are so overcrowded and how it's a waste of money
January 25, 2013 at 11:08 PM
It sure takes a dumb human to recognize a "dumb coon" when they seed' it.
January 22, 2013 at 11:11 PM
he is an amazing man and would never hurt his child. he is great with children and would never lay his hand on a woman. More than I can say for some people.
January 23, 2013 at 12:39 AM
As disgusting as his actions were….there have been 40 years of the legalized killing of humans most vulnerable and defenseless…the unborn. As long as America can turn a blind eye to this horrific practice don't expect a huge response from be when it comes to killing a raccoon.
January 25, 2013 at 11:10 PM
this isn't the place for an obvious agenda like yours.
January 23, 2013 at 12:43 AM
I have killed several coons for getting in my garbage. I Killed squirrels because the wife got pissed they were not letting birds eat from the feeder. They are pests infested with disease including rabies, which is dangerous to our pets. WHO CARES HOW IT DIED, IT'S DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!
January 25, 2013 at 11:17 PM
wow and you are blessfully ignorant to the true horror of what you have done. Words are a waste for your type. These disease infested pests are our own doing. What else have they to eat and where else can they live? We continue to take away their only resources.
January 23, 2013 at 9:48 AM
why dont we post a video of an abortion on facebook!!
January 23, 2013 at 10:17 AM
Bravo Judge Hicks – thank you for your wise sentence – and thank you for (finally) giving those of us in Michigan a reason to be proud…
January 23, 2013 at 11:07 AM
We need more Judges like Hicks BRAVO!!!!
January 23, 2013 at 11:08 AM
Ok, this has NOTHING to do with abortion so let's keep it on topic. What he did was wrong. It was INHUMANE. People who commit inhumane acts need to understand that their actions have consequences. He should have thought about it before he posted it on the internet and boasted about his big, heroic "kill." I don't care how nice a guy he is, what he did was WRONG. And, he could have called a local rehabber who would have come and removed the animal for him. DNR probably would not have come and taken care of the animal for him and THAT is where your anger should lie over abused and wasted taxpayer money. They tend to jump into action when it comes to poaching the animals that hunters pay a licensing fee to kill, and to not worry abut other wildlife. They are a public agency, paid for with your taxpayer money and they do nothing to help the public in these situations.
January 25, 2013 at 6:16 PM
Laurie, The topic to me is the 1 year for killing an animal that had killed the mans chickens and was attacked by the mans dog.Killing an animal is not as bad as killing babies and yet its legal to murder babies.That is the topic to me,but I understand to alot of people in this world believe animal rights are more important then human life.Over50 million babies have been murdered in this country alone since 1974 so open your eyes to what is important and stand against abortion.
January 23, 2013 at 11:16 AM
Another example of an ignorant ass judicial system…
January 23, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Bravo, Distinguished Judge!!!! Murdering an innocent animal is a first step to committing a crime against people. Next time the guy would think twice before taking the inhumane action. Some people have to learn the hard way how to be humans, and to be responsible for their actions. It takes a while of how to learn to co-exist with the natural life, to help animals in need, and to take them to rehhabers that can take care of them. There are many natural ways of how to protect your yard and your house too… just start to educate yourself instead of destroying everything around yourselves. There is a CARMA rule.
January 23, 2013 at 1:09 PM
The statement this piece of filth reads to the court – with difficulty – was obviously written for him by his attorney: humbug! He was lucky to have been arraigned before encountering any animal lovers.
ΠΞ
January 25, 2013 at 7:10 PM
I cannot believe some of the comments I am reading here. To condone the cruel inhumane act of STOMPING an injured animal to death is truly disgusting. This man deserves to do jail time!
January 25, 2013 at 10:09 PM
WOW far left or right extremest will stop at nothing to spout their BS You bastards go on an on and on about the UNBORN child but do NOT give two shits about the millions of children here in extreme poverty and abuse and neglect. YOUR GOD says "how you treat the least of my children how shall YOU be judged". I wish you Fers would spend as much energy on the ones already here as you do the unborn because we wouldn't have these problems. Keep tything to your large religious organization. I will keep tything to my children and animal causes. We will see on judgment day where each of us is.
January 28, 2013 at 4:05 AM
He stomped it. To death. Recorded it on video. Posted it. Raccoons are smart, social animals. I've rehabbed a dozen or so babies stranded on the road when ma was hit ( not at the same time ), and they are no different from a dog. Could you stomp a puppy? To death? He did a sick thing. The end. Regardless of "extenuating circumstances". He could have kept it treed and called animal control.
February 6, 2013 at 11:28 PM
He thought he was cool, that's why he wanted the world to see what he did. Now – he is no longer cool. Stop abusing wildlife. The public is becoming increasingly intolerant of these types of actions.