Man Guilty In Fatal Shooting Over Dog Urine
JOLIET, Ill. (CBS) A University Park man accused of killing a neighbor whose dog urinated on the man's prized lawn was convicted of second-degree murder Friday.
Charles Clements, 69, posted $75,000 bond and awaits sentencing, the Will County State's Attorney's Office confirmed.
In convicting Clements of second-degree murder, jurors decided that at the time of the shooting, he thought he was acting in self-defense but that his belief was unreasonable.
On May 10, Joshua Funches was walking his fox terrier on Landau Road, and the dog urinated on Clements' lawn, which had earned the homeowner awards for its beauty.
The pair argued, and Funches hit Clements. But Clements followed Funches off his property and shot him. Clements was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Represented by Daniel Collins, Clements' trial began Tuesday with jury selection in Will County Judge Dan Rozak's courtroom. Closing arguments were Friday morning and after nearly four hours of deliberations, the jury returned the verdict.
Clements' sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 21. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The victim's mother, Patricia Funches, said Clements did not have to shoot her son. She believes he'll be punished for the choice he made.
"All I have is the memory of my son in a casket," she told CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman.
Other neighbors said Clements is a good man. He had posted a "do not disturb" sign on his residence after the verdict Friday.
Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire
