Man who kicked a steer in the head at a suburban backyard rodeo is acquitted on an animal cruelty charge
<p>There doesn’t seem to be much debate over whether 68-year-old Socorro Barrientos repeatedly kicked a steer in the head last year at a backyard rodeo in the far northwest suburbs, which led to an animal cruelty charge against him.</p><p>Instead, in explaining a not guilty verdict rendered this past week in Barrientos’ case, McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen focused heavily on how the kicks landed and were delivered, with drone video showing the steer laying just outside the corral unable, or unwilling, to stand up as a foot came down 10 or more times.</p><p>While saying he “found this decision to be difficult” — and noting that Barrientos’ behavior was “perhaps not very kind” — Hansen said: “I do not find it to be cruel” through his analysis.</p><p>The defendant’s intent did not appear to be “to injure the cow or inflict pain or suffering,” Hansen said Thursday in a Woodstock courtroom. “I think he made an effort to move a cow back into the standing position.”</p><p>Hansen said Barrientos didn’t use the “tip of his boot” to kick the animal and “this action by the defendant appears to be one with little or no leverage.”</p><p>Had Barrientos been facing “the cow and stood with leverage on one foot and then reared back” as if he was “kicking a football,” that would’ve been “a very different maneuver,” Hansen said.</p><p>“There’s no indication the animal is affected or bothered” by what happened, as the “video does not show” the animal “expressing any reaction.”</p><p>Hansen also said of a veterinarian who had testified that the steer experienced “harm, fear and trauma” and endured “rough” kicks: “I think the doctor means well,” but he didn’t find her “to be particularly persuasive.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2f0000" name="image-2f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4edabc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27d8050/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/876b147/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>City of Crystal Lake</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“I didn’t find” the kicks “to be rough,” Hansen said, adding “the animal’s reaction did not seem consistent with harm, fear and trauma.”</p><p>He said there was no evidence she or police examined the steer after the rodeo, but rather they relied on the video.</p><p>Section 3.01 of the state’s Humane Care for Animals Act deals with “cruel treatment,” saying in part: “No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal.”</p><p>But Hansen said “there’s not a clear definition that sort of sets the baseline for what constitutes cruel treatment of an animal.”</p><p>“‘Cruel’ isn’t set in the statute.”</p><p>Nathan Noble, Barrientos’ attorney, said: “The judge made the right decision, it’s unfortunate that this was even charged in the first place.”</p><p>The McHenry County state’s attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, didn’t immediately return calls for comment.</p><p>Chicago resident Jodie Wiederkehr of the animal rights group SHARK described the ruling as “tragic” and said “kicking an animal in the face is always going to be cruel.”</p><p>“If you substituted” the steer “for a dog I’m sure the verdict would be different.”</p><p>The acquittal came a week after three other men from the same Woodstock area rodeo were sentenced by Hansen to conditional discharge, similar to probation, for ripping the tails from steers during an event and likewise facing animal cruelty charges.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-6e0000" name="image-6e0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5837c26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74cbcda/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9133f57/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Robert Herguth / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Called steer tailing, that event involves men on horseback chasing down fleeing steers, grabbing their tails and wrapping them around their boots or legs until they tumble.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>There doesn’t seem to be much debate over whether 68-year-old Socorro Barrientos repeatedly kicked a steer in the head last year at a backyard rodeo in the far northwest suburbs, which led to an animal cruelty charge against him.</p><p>Instead, in explaining a not guilty verdict rendered this past week in Barrientos’ case, McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen focused heavily on how the kicks landed and were delivered, with drone video showing the steer laying just outside the corral unable, or unwilling, to stand up as a foot came down 10 or more times.</p><p>While saying he “found this decision to be difficult” — and noting that Barrientos’ behavior was “perhaps not very kind” — Hansen said: “I do not find it to be cruel” through his analysis.</p><p>The defendant’s intent did not appear to be “to injure the cow or inflict pain or suffering,” Hansen said Thursday in a Woodstock courtroom. “I think he made an effort to move a cow back into the standing position.”</p><p>Hansen said Barrientos didn’t use the “tip of his boot” to kick the animal and “this action by the defendant appears to be one with little or no leverage.”</p><p>Had Barrientos been facing “the cow and stood with leverage on one foot and then reared back” as if he was “kicking a football,” that would’ve been “a very different maneuver,” Hansen said.</p><p>“There’s no indication the animal is affected or bothered” by what happened, as the “video does not show” the animal “expressing any reaction.”</p><p>Hansen also said of a veterinarian who had testified that the steer experienced “harm, fear and trauma” and endured “rough” kicks: “I think the doctor means well,” but he didn’t find her “to be particularly persuasive.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2f0000" name="image-2f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4edabc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27d8050/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/876b147/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>City of Crystal Lake</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“I didn’t find” the kicks “to be rough,” Hansen said, adding “the animal’s reaction did not seem consistent with harm, fear and trauma.”</p><p>He said there was no evidence she or police examined the steer after the rodeo, but rather they relied on the video.</p><p>Section 3.01 of the state’s Humane Care for Animals Act deals with “cruel treatment,” saying in part: “No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal.”</p><p>But Hansen said “there’s not a clear definition that sort of sets the baseline for what constitutes cruel treatment of an animal.”</p><p>“‘Cruel’ isn’t set in the statute.”</p><p>Nathan Noble, Barrientos’ attorney, said: “The judge made the right decision, it’s unfortunate that this was even charged in the first place.”</p><p>The McHenry County state’s attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, didn’t immediately return calls for comment.</p><p>Chicago resident Jodie Wiederkehr of the animal rights group SHARK described the ruling as “tragic” and said “kicking an animal in the face is always going to be cruel.”</p><p>“If you substituted” the steer “for a dog I’m sure the verdict would be different.”</p><p>The acquittal came a week after three other men from the same Woodstock area rodeo were sentenced by Hansen to conditional discharge, similar to probation, for ripping the tails from steers during an event and likewise facing animal cruelty charges.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-6e0000" name="image-6e0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5837c26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74cbcda/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9133f57/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Robert Herguth / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Called steer tailing, that event involves men on horseback chasing down fleeing steers, grabbing their tails and wrapping them around their boots or legs until they tumble. Sometimes the practice results in “degloving,” with the tails tearing away. The animals can be hurt in other ways — in some instances they suffer broken legs.
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- <p>There doesn’t seem to be much debate over whether 68-year-old Socorro Barrientos repeatedly kicked a steer in the head last year at a backyard rodeo in the far northwest suburbs, which led to an animal cruelty charge against him.</p><p>Instead, in explaining a not guilty verdict rendered this past week in Barrientos’ case, McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen focused heavily on how the kicks landed and were delivered, with drone video showing the steer laying just outside the corral unable, or unwilling, to stand up as a foot came down 10 or more times.</p><p>While saying he “found this decision to be difficult” — and noting that Barrientos’ behavior was “perhaps not very kind” — Hansen said: “I do not find it to be cruel” through his analysis.</p><p>The defendant’s intent did not appear to be “to injure the cow or inflict pain or suffering,” Hansen said Thursday in a Woodstock courtroom. “I think he made an effort to move a cow back into the standing position.”</p><p>Hansen said Barrientos didn’t use the “tip of his boot” to kick the animal and “this action by the defendant appears to be one with little or no leverage.”</p><p>Had Barrientos been facing “the cow and stood with leverage on one foot and then reared back” as if he was “kicking a football,” that would’ve been “a very different maneuver,” Hansen said.</p><p>“There’s no indication the animal is affected or bothered” by what happened, as the “video does not show” the animal “expressing any reaction.”</p><p>Hansen also said of a veterinarian who had testified that the steer experienced “harm, fear and trauma” and endured “rough” kicks: “I think the doctor means well,” but he didn’t find her “to be particularly persuasive.”</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2f0000" name="image-2f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e4edabc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27d8050/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/876b147/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b39c319/2147483647/strip/true/crop/414x232+0+77/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F70%2Fc1%2F338767054197be837115a4f74f16%2Fscreenshot-2026-08-14-at-4-11-52-pm.png" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>City of Crystal Lake</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>“I didn’t find” the kicks “to be rough,” Hansen said, adding “the animal’s reaction did not seem consistent with harm, fear and trauma.”</p><p>He said there was no evidence she or police examined the steer after the rodeo, but rather they relied on the video.</p><p>Section 3.01 of the state’s Humane Care for Animals Act deals with “cruel treatment,” saying in part: “No person or owner may beat, cruelly treat, torment, starve, overwork or otherwise abuse any animal.”</p><p>But Hansen said “there’s not a clear definition that sort of sets the baseline for what constitutes cruel treatment of an animal.”</p><p>“‘Cruel’ isn’t set in the statute.”</p><p>Nathan Noble, Barrientos’ attorney, said: “The judge made the right decision, it’s unfortunate that this was even charged in the first place.”</p><p>The McHenry County state’s attorney’s office, which prosecuted the case, didn’t immediately return calls for comment.</p><p>Chicago resident Jodie Wiederkehr of the animal rights group SHARK described the ruling as “tragic” and said “kicking an animal in the face is always going to be cruel.”</p><p>“If you substituted” the steer “for a dog I’m sure the verdict would be different.”</p><p>The acquittal came a week after three other men from the same Woodstock area rodeo were sentenced by Hansen to conditional discharge, similar to probation, for ripping the tails from steers during an event and likewise facing animal cruelty charges.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-6e0000" name="image-6e0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5837c26/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/74cbcda/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos." srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/9133f57/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8af72a6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4032x2263+0+381/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F41%2F5d%2F4fbdbefa4c89926a43f79f3ba420%2Fimg-0541-copy.JPG" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>The McHenry County property where a backyard rodeo was held last year that led to criminal charges against several men, including Socorro Barrientos.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Robert Herguth / Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p>Called steer tailing, that event involves men on horseback chasing down fleeing steers, grabbing their tails and wrapping them around their boots or legs until they tumble.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
- When was it last updated?
- 7m ago.
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Man who kicked a steer in the head at a suburban backyard rodeo is acquitted on an animal cruelty charge
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times