Sunday, May 17, 2015

Stephenson County court hearing reveals more details about animal cruelty case

ILLINOIS -- Tina McKinnon brought two freezers full of dead animals and several live dogs in kennels in a rental truck when she moved into a rural Freeport home this winter.

Those were among the details Stephenson County Sheriff's Lt. Richard Roodhouse recited at a court hearing today for McKinnon, 45, who faces two felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals, two misdemeanor charges of cruel treatment to animals and a misdemeanor charge of neglecting owner's duties. Judge Michael Bald found probable cause for the case to continue, setting a jury trial for Aug. 20.
 
 
Authorities said they found 85 live dogs and at least 29 dead cats and 36 dead dogs March 16 at a rental home at 1358 N. Heitter Road owned by Cole Eshleman.
 
In addition to the dead animals counted, authorities also found dead animals in a shed on the property but were not able to count them because of the smell, said Roodhouse. The dead animals in the freezer were also not part of the count.
 
Authorities arrested McKinnon a few days later in Linn, Wisconsin, and she met with Stephenson County Deputy Investigator Jim Norton at the Stephenson County Jail on March 20.
 
Roodhouse testified that McKinnon told Norton she disagreed with the wording of the charges against her. She told authorities she "was not cruel to the animals, was not starving them and hadn't abused or abandoned the animals."
 
McKinnon told authorities she had been living in Tyler, Texas, had acquired "a number of dogs" from a humane society in Springfield, Missouri, and transported the dogs to Stephenson County in a rented Penske truck, with the dogs in kennels.
 
 
Roodhouse said a search of the rental home revealed two freezers full of dead animals, which McKinnon told authorities she brought from Texas hoping to bury the bodies once she settled into her new home.
 
McKinnon told authorities she had been leaving a 55-pound bag of dog food out for the dogs every day and "large bowls of water," but she acknowledged that the dogs in kennels couldn't access the food and water, Roodhouse said.
 
McKinnon did find another home for some animals before authorities rescued the dogs March 16, Roodhouse said. A Forreston woman found McKinnon via Craigslist in February and took four puppies that McKinnon said had a pack mentality.
 
The two women met a second time, and McKinnon gave the woman a female German shepherd with three puppies, all of which required multiple treatments for worms, Roodhouse said.
 
McKinnon underwent a psychiatric evaluation in April at Stephenson County Public Defender Byron Sloan's request, and she was found fit to stand trial on May 6. On April 15, McKinnon legally surrendered the rescued dogs and puppies to Stephenson County Animal Warden Kristin Laue. The case is next due in court at 1:30 p.m. July 16.
 
If convicted of a felony charge, McKinnon could face probation or up to three years in prison.
 
Stephenson County Board Chairman Bill Hadley said he will recognize  Laue during a County Board meeting tonight for her efforts to rescue and treat the dogs. He said the idea to honor Laue was a joint effort by him and County Engineer Chris Isbell.
 
 
"She's gone well above her duties, and done most of the extra work without charging it back to the county," Hadley said. "I consider that to be an outstanding employee."
 
Laue said about 31 dogs have been adopted to families in Winnebago and Stephenson counties, and she is still reviewing additional adoption applications.
 
"I know these dogs pretty much better than anyone, so I really need to be the one to review things," Laue said. "I just keep telling people to be patient. I'll get through all their applications."


(Journal Standard - May 14, 2015)

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