ILLINOIS -- A judge sentenced a Wonder Lake man Friday to 30 months of probation and fined him more than $3,000 for breaking into a wildlife refuge last year and stealing a bald eagle and a Cooper's hawk.
Robert L. Chissus, 32, admitted stealing the birds from the McHenry County Conservation District's Wildlife Resource Center on Jan. 11, 2002, with help from an 11-year-old boy. He pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage to government property, theft and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The Cooper's hawk, which had been recovering from an injury, has not been found. Hunters recovered the eagle, which has cataracts, is nearly blind and couldn't possibly survive on its own, in a field the day after the burglary.
Why would you give him probation??? I'd tell him, cough up the hawk and I'll give you probation. Otherwise, you'll be cooling your heels in a jail cell!
McHenry Circuit Judge Ward Arnold banned Chissus from drinking alcoholic beverages while on probation. A parole officer will monitor Chissus, who will be subject to random urine and blood tests.
"Within 10 minutes after I met you, I knew your main problem was alcohol," Arnold told Chissus. "Your prior criminal history largely is the result of that."
Chissus has a 1998 conviction on a drunken-driving charge in Florida and a 1988 burglary conviction in McHenry County that involved alcohol, said his lawyer, Christopher Harmon.
Chissus was out on bail after being charged with stealing the birds, but he violated conditions of his bail by drinking, authorities said. Bail was revoked May 2.
MAYBE HIS MOMMY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT HIS DRINKING PROBLEM INSTEAD OF MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIM WHEN HE COMMITS CRIMES
Chissus' mother, Adrienne, said Thursday that her son was just investigating strange noises in the pen at the wildlife center, which borders her property, the night of Jan. 11, when he fell through the wire roof.
Worried the rare birds would injure themselves trying to escape, her son brought them to their home and tried to feed them, she said.
"He felt responsible," she said. "They were better off out of their cages."
The hawk flew off, and the bald eagle flew into a tree, she said.
She scoffed at the suggestion that Chissus intentionally stole the rare birds.
"What are you going to do with a bald eagle?" she said.
James McAuliff, chief of the criminal division of the McHenry County state's attorney's office, would not say what Chissus' motive might have been, but noted there is a black market for rare and endangered species.
"He was not going to release them into the wild," McAuliff said.
Bald eagles are listed as threatened on the federal endangered species list. Cooper's hawks are protected under federal laws regarding migratory birds.
(Chicago Tribune -May 17, 2003)
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Thursday, March 6, 2003
Florida: Bail denied for veterinarian Cathy Crighton in case of stolen horses that were painted with Rust-Oleum to disguise them
FLORIDA -- Bail was denied Wednesday in a Florida courtroom for a Palos Heights veterinarian accused of stealing two expensive show horses from southwest suburban stables last fall and a third from Florida about five weeks ago.
Cathy Crighton, 44, has been charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing the horses and with dealing in stolen property for allegedly selling one of the Illinois horses to an unsuspecting buyer in Florida about two weeks ago.
he also is charged with theft of saddles and equestrian equipment found in her Wellington, Fla., condominium and in a stable where she kept the stolen horses, according to police.
Crighton applied Rust-Oleum paint to one horse's lower legs and face in an effort to obscure its identifying marks, police said.
The horses were recovered in Wellington last weekend, and the two animals from suburban Chicago headed home Wednesday by horse trailer, according to their owners.
Last Monday a Palm Beach County judge ordered that Crighton undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Results of an evaluation have not been made public.
Crighton is accused of stealing a Swedish Warmblood horse named Keller from an Orland Township stable and a horse named Scooby-Doo from Wilmington in September, and transporting them to Florida, where she kept them in rented stables.
On Jan. 21 she is alleged to have stolen a horse named San Diego from a stable in Wellington, an equestrian community in Palm Beach County.
(Chicago Tribune - March 6, 2003)
Earlier:
Cathy Crighton, 44, has been charged with grand theft for allegedly stealing the horses and with dealing in stolen property for allegedly selling one of the Illinois horses to an unsuspecting buyer in Florida about two weeks ago.
he also is charged with theft of saddles and equestrian equipment found in her Wellington, Fla., condominium and in a stable where she kept the stolen horses, according to police.
Crighton applied Rust-Oleum paint to one horse's lower legs and face in an effort to obscure its identifying marks, police said.
The horses were recovered in Wellington last weekend, and the two animals from suburban Chicago headed home Wednesday by horse trailer, according to their owners.
Last Monday a Palm Beach County judge ordered that Crighton undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Results of an evaluation have not been made public.
Crighton is accused of stealing a Swedish Warmblood horse named Keller from an Orland Township stable and a horse named Scooby-Doo from Wilmington in September, and transporting them to Florida, where she kept them in rented stables.
On Jan. 21 she is alleged to have stolen a horse named San Diego from a stable in Wellington, an equestrian community in Palm Beach County.
(Chicago Tribune - March 6, 2003)
Earlier:
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
Florida: Painting of stolen horses with Rust-Oleum led to arrest of veterinarian Cathy Crighton
FLORIDA -- A stable owner in south Florida cautioned a veterinarian about yelling at people on an equestrian trail near the barn and wondered why she kept a horse under a blanket in 80-degree weather.
But what really drew suspicion to the former Palos Park vet was trying to camouflage white markings on expensive show horses with Rust-Oleum paint.
Cathy Crighton was charged over the weekend with stealing two horses in Illinois and a third in Florida, and dealing in stolen property for allegedly selling one of the Illinois horses to an unsuspecting buyer. She also is charged with stealing a horse trailer and two saddles.
The two Chicago-area horses that disappeared in the fall were being prepared for a trip home by trailer on Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I'm ecstatic, but I'm in shock," said Jolene Novak-Racevicius of New Lenox, whose horse Keller was stolen Oct. 8 from the Top Brass Horse Farm in Orland Township. "I'm happy to have her back, but I'm sad about the way she was treated. I was told she's underweight and very shy from being abused."
Crighton, 44, formerly known as Cathy Mance, was being held Monday in the Palm Beach County Jail in Florida. She was placed on suicide watch after she put her head in a toilet, sheriff's deputies said, and a county judge has ordered her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. She is scheduled for a bail hearing Wednesday, sheriff's investigator Sgt. Michael Wingate said.
He said Crighton admitted stealing a horse from a New Lenox owner but claimed she only picked up the other Illinois horse and the Florida horse when she found them wandering.
Crighton quickly drew the attention of stable owner Sohail Shahzada, whom she approached Jan. 22, the morning after the Florida horse was stolen, saying she desperately needed a place for a horse that was being delivered that day from Chicago, Shahzada said.
Shahzada noticed Crighton avoiding people passing near the barn on a public equestrian trail, he said.
"Every night my neighbor passes my barn walking her Great Dane, and I noticed that Dr. Crighton got nervous every time she passed, and two or three times she screamed at her to get off the property," Shahzada said. "I asked her, please, don't scream at my neighbors, they are nice people and they are on a public path," he said.
Within a few weeks Crighton brought two other horses to his stable, which were found to be the missing Illinois horses, he said.
"One day I went out to the barn and found her putting Rust-Oleum paint on the horse's face, with a brush. Now that just didn't make sense. I'm no expert on horses, but I know what Rust-Oleum is for, and it's not for horses," Shahzada said.
Wingate said Shahzada was surprised by Crighton's poor treatment of the animals and became suspicious when he heard that a horse had been stolen nearby. He found the missing horse's trainer, who identified the horse, and police were called, Shahzada said.
(Chicago Tribune - March 4, 2003)
Earlier:
But what really drew suspicion to the former Palos Park vet was trying to camouflage white markings on expensive show horses with Rust-Oleum paint.
Cathy Crighton was charged over the weekend with stealing two horses in Illinois and a third in Florida, and dealing in stolen property for allegedly selling one of the Illinois horses to an unsuspecting buyer. She also is charged with stealing a horse trailer and two saddles.
The two Chicago-area horses that disappeared in the fall were being prepared for a trip home by trailer on Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I'm ecstatic, but I'm in shock," said Jolene Novak-Racevicius of New Lenox, whose horse Keller was stolen Oct. 8 from the Top Brass Horse Farm in Orland Township. "I'm happy to have her back, but I'm sad about the way she was treated. I was told she's underweight and very shy from being abused."
Crighton, 44, formerly known as Cathy Mance, was being held Monday in the Palm Beach County Jail in Florida. She was placed on suicide watch after she put her head in a toilet, sheriff's deputies said, and a county judge has ordered her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. She is scheduled for a bail hearing Wednesday, sheriff's investigator Sgt. Michael Wingate said.
He said Crighton admitted stealing a horse from a New Lenox owner but claimed she only picked up the other Illinois horse and the Florida horse when she found them wandering.
Crighton quickly drew the attention of stable owner Sohail Shahzada, whom she approached Jan. 22, the morning after the Florida horse was stolen, saying she desperately needed a place for a horse that was being delivered that day from Chicago, Shahzada said.
Shahzada noticed Crighton avoiding people passing near the barn on a public equestrian trail, he said.
"Every night my neighbor passes my barn walking her Great Dane, and I noticed that Dr. Crighton got nervous every time she passed, and two or three times she screamed at her to get off the property," Shahzada said. "I asked her, please, don't scream at my neighbors, they are nice people and they are on a public path," he said.
Within a few weeks Crighton brought two other horses to his stable, which were found to be the missing Illinois horses, he said.
"One day I went out to the barn and found her putting Rust-Oleum paint on the horse's face, with a brush. Now that just didn't make sense. I'm no expert on horses, but I know what Rust-Oleum is for, and it's not for horses," Shahzada said.
Wingate said Shahzada was surprised by Crighton's poor treatment of the animals and became suspicious when he heard that a horse had been stolen nearby. He found the missing horse's trainer, who identified the horse, and police were called, Shahzada said.
(Chicago Tribune - March 4, 2003)
Earlier:
Monday, March 3, 2003
Florida: Veterinarian Cathy Crighton, 44, charged with stealing show horses and painting them a different color
FLORIDA -- A veterinarian from Palos Park has been charged with stealing three expensive show horses from suburban Chicago and Florida, according to a spokesman with the Palm Beach County records office.
Cathy Crighton, 44, was arrested Saturday in Wellington, Fla., while trying to use black enamel paint to cover distinguishing white marks on the legs and faces of the animals, Palm Beach County investigators told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Among the horses recovered was a $50,000 Swedish Warmblood named Keller, which was taken from a stable in Orland Township last fall, officials said.
Crighton's bail was set at $5,000. She remained in the Palm Beach County Jail Sunday and has been charged with burglary of a structure and grand theft.
Crighton had cared for Keller, which belonged to Jolene Novak-Racevicius', before the award-winning horse was stolen in October. Shortly before the theft, the two had a falling out, Novak-Racevicius said, "so I decided not to use her any more."
When police went to Crighton's home to question her, Novak-Racevicius said, the veterinarian had her home up for sale and had left the state.
(Chicago Tribune - March 3, 2003)
Cathy Crighton, 44, was arrested Saturday in Wellington, Fla., while trying to use black enamel paint to cover distinguishing white marks on the legs and faces of the animals, Palm Beach County investigators told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Among the horses recovered was a $50,000 Swedish Warmblood named Keller, which was taken from a stable in Orland Township last fall, officials said.
Crighton's bail was set at $5,000. She remained in the Palm Beach County Jail Sunday and has been charged with burglary of a structure and grand theft.
Crighton had cared for Keller, which belonged to Jolene Novak-Racevicius', before the award-winning horse was stolen in October. Shortly before the theft, the two had a falling out, Novak-Racevicius said, "so I decided not to use her any more."
When police went to Crighton's home to question her, Novak-Racevicius said, the veterinarian had her home up for sale and had left the state.
(Chicago Tribune - March 3, 2003)
Friday, February 28, 2003
Illinois: Dad fatally stabs pit bull that mauled his 3-year-old son; pit bull owner Benjamin Flores given a ticket
ILLINOIS -- The father of a 3-year-old boy who was mauled by a neighbor's pit bull Thursday stabbed and killed the dog after hearing the attack, police said.
The dog entered the family's apartment in the 2000 block of North St. Louis Avenue at about 5 p.m. when the toddler's mother went to take the garbage out, said police spokesman Matthew Jackson.
The dog belonged to Benjamin Flores, 22, who was cited for not having tags on the animal or registering it with the city, Jackson said.
The boy was taken to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, where he was treated for injuries to his thigh and released.
(Chicago Tribune - February 28, 2003)
The dog entered the family's apartment in the 2000 block of North St. Louis Avenue at about 5 p.m. when the toddler's mother went to take the garbage out, said police spokesman Matthew Jackson.
The dog belonged to Benjamin Flores, 22, who was cited for not having tags on the animal or registering it with the city, Jackson said.
The boy was taken to St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center, where he was treated for injuries to his thigh and released.
(Chicago Tribune - February 28, 2003)
Saturday, January 25, 2003
Florida: Boynton Officers Shoot Dead 2 Pit Bulls
FLORIDA -- Two dogs that allegedly charged at four police officers in separate incidents within 24 hours were shot and killed, officials said Friday.
The officers' supervisors will do a routine inquiry into the shootings, police said. But officials said the shootings appear to be justified and it is likely no action will be taken.
The first shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. Thursday when Officer John Bonfair went to a call where two pit bulls were attacking a puppy in the 300 block of Northeast 23rd Avenue, police said.
The owner of the puppy told police that as he tried to pull the dogs off his pet, the big dogs turned on him.
The officers began searching for the dogs when they received another call that two pit bulls were attacking another dog nearby.
When they arrived, Bonfair said he saw the dogs mauling a small chow mix. The largest canine turned and approached Bonfair, who fired four shots, killing the dog, police said.
The other pit bull turned and ran. But police followed it and found it hiding in a pen behind a home in the 300 block of Northeast 23rd Avenue.
Animal control officers said they thought the dog was too scared to leave for the night and therefore did not take it. An investigator was expected to be at the home Friday morning.
The second shooting occurred shortly after 8:20 a.m. Friday when officers went to check on a 911 call at an apartment in the 800 block of Boynton Beach Boulevard.
When the officers entered the house after there was no answer, a large dog rushed past one officer and charged at Officer Astrel Labbe, police said.
Labbe, a rookie who is scheduled to be released on his own from training on Monday, shot the dog three times, police said.
(Sun Sentinel - January 25, 2003)
The officers' supervisors will do a routine inquiry into the shootings, police said. But officials said the shootings appear to be justified and it is likely no action will be taken.
The first shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. Thursday when Officer John Bonfair went to a call where two pit bulls were attacking a puppy in the 300 block of Northeast 23rd Avenue, police said.
The owner of the puppy told police that as he tried to pull the dogs off his pet, the big dogs turned on him.
The officers began searching for the dogs when they received another call that two pit bulls were attacking another dog nearby.
When they arrived, Bonfair said he saw the dogs mauling a small chow mix. The largest canine turned and approached Bonfair, who fired four shots, killing the dog, police said.
The other pit bull turned and ran. But police followed it and found it hiding in a pen behind a home in the 300 block of Northeast 23rd Avenue.
Animal control officers said they thought the dog was too scared to leave for the night and therefore did not take it. An investigator was expected to be at the home Friday morning.
The second shooting occurred shortly after 8:20 a.m. Friday when officers went to check on a 911 call at an apartment in the 800 block of Boynton Beach Boulevard.
When the officers entered the house after there was no answer, a large dog rushed past one officer and charged at Officer Astrel Labbe, police said.
Labbe, a rookie who is scheduled to be released on his own from training on Monday, shot the dog three times, police said.
(Sun Sentinel - January 25, 2003)
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Colorado: Former Animal Control officer says dogs that attacked Garrett Carothers had history
COLORADO -- A former animal-control officer for the Pagosa Springs development where an 8-year-old boy was mauled by two dogs says she cited the pets’ owner for dogs being at large when she worked there.
Helena Grandquist – who said she was fired from her job with the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association in October – said the property-owners association was "grossly negligent" in how it handled problem dogs.
"It was totally preventable," Grandquist said. "I could have prevented it if I had been allowed to do my job."
Garrett Carothers was mauled by two dogs Dec. 23. Hoping to go sledding, Garrett walked from his Canyon Circle house in the Pagosa Vista subdivision to a friend’s home across the street.
On his friend’s porch, he knocked on the door about 1 p.m.. No one answered. As Garrett walked off the porch, a pit bull and a Rottweiler-retriever cross attacked him, pulled him off the porch and dragged him 30 feet across the street to his front yard. Passers-by pulled the dogs off the boy.
Walt Lukasik, general manager of the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association, confirmed that Grandquist worked for the association for about three years and that she left in October. He would not comment on her allegations against the association or why she left her job.
Capt. Bob Grandchamp, lead investigator for the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, formerly served on a committee that reviewed animal-control citations for the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association – a committee that Grandquist charges showed favoritism and routinely overturned citations.
Grandchamp on Monday suggested Grandquist is a "disgruntled employee."
Meanwhile, Garrett was released from Mercy Medical Center on Saturday. Garrett underwent 10 hours of surgery at Mercy the day of the attack. His scalp was reattached and his face sewn back together.
Garrett’s left ear was almost torn off, his mouth droops on one side, one eyelid does not close properly, and nerve damage is suspected. Garrett’s family has appointed his aunt, Deanna Hockett, as family spokeswoman after receiving advice from an attorney not to discuss his case.
The family is considering legal action.
Steve Benson, who lives two houses from where the attack happened, said his 9-year-old son, Daniel, was bitten on the legs, buttocks and arms by the dogs suspected of attacking Garrett about three weeks before the mauling. The bites didn’t break the boy’s skin, Benson said.
"We didn’t report it," Benson said. "We chose to talk to the people individually. That was the first indication that we’d better watch out for those dogs. Unfortunately, we chose to talk to the owners instead of the authorities."
Sandra Schultz, mother of the dogs’ owner, denied in a Monday telephone interview that anyone ever talked to her about the dogs biting a child.
Grandquist, who now works as an animal-control officer for La Plata County, said she worked for the homeowners’ association from September 1999 until October. She said the homeowners’ association was uneven in its enforcement of covenants governing animals.
"There’s just numerous cases where they let people off with dangerous dogs," she said. "It depends on how nice these people’s houses are – if they’re rich. All I wanted to do was do public safety, and they sabotaged my efforts at that all the time."
Grandchamp, the sheriff’s investigator, denied the appeals board showed favoritism.
"We listened to the complaint," he said. "Listened to both sides, and then we made a panel decision. We overturned some of (Grandquist’s citations), but there was extenuating circumstances."
It was the practice of the homeowners’ association to warn property owners rather than pet owners, Grandquist said. So she dealt with Schultz rather than Schultz’s son, Grandquist said.
"She always complied," Grandquist said. "She always put the dogs up. She tied them up, and she got them rabies vaccinations. She did the best she could."
Grandquist said if she had been allowed to do her job then she would have warned Schultz again, and the problem would have been fixed before the attack on Garrett. But she said she was not allowed to patrol the area where the attack occurred.
"It’s gross negligence on the part of the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association," she said. "They were so focused on trying to get rid of me that they were negligent in not letting me patrol that area."
Helena Grandquist – who said she was fired from her job with the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association in October – said the property-owners association was "grossly negligent" in how it handled problem dogs.
"It was totally preventable," Grandquist said. "I could have prevented it if I had been allowed to do my job."
Garrett Carothers was mauled by two dogs Dec. 23. Hoping to go sledding, Garrett walked from his Canyon Circle house in the Pagosa Vista subdivision to a friend’s home across the street.
On his friend’s porch, he knocked on the door about 1 p.m.. No one answered. As Garrett walked off the porch, a pit bull and a Rottweiler-retriever cross attacked him, pulled him off the porch and dragged him 30 feet across the street to his front yard. Passers-by pulled the dogs off the boy.
Walt Lukasik, general manager of the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association, confirmed that Grandquist worked for the association for about three years and that she left in October. He would not comment on her allegations against the association or why she left her job.
Capt. Bob Grandchamp, lead investigator for the Archuleta County Sheriff’s Office, formerly served on a committee that reviewed animal-control citations for the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association – a committee that Grandquist charges showed favoritism and routinely overturned citations.
Grandchamp on Monday suggested Grandquist is a "disgruntled employee."
Meanwhile, Garrett was released from Mercy Medical Center on Saturday. Garrett underwent 10 hours of surgery at Mercy the day of the attack. His scalp was reattached and his face sewn back together.
Garrett’s left ear was almost torn off, his mouth droops on one side, one eyelid does not close properly, and nerve damage is suspected. Garrett’s family has appointed his aunt, Deanna Hockett, as family spokeswoman after receiving advice from an attorney not to discuss his case.
The family is considering legal action.
Steve Benson, who lives two houses from where the attack happened, said his 9-year-old son, Daniel, was bitten on the legs, buttocks and arms by the dogs suspected of attacking Garrett about three weeks before the mauling. The bites didn’t break the boy’s skin, Benson said.
"We didn’t report it," Benson said. "We chose to talk to the people individually. That was the first indication that we’d better watch out for those dogs. Unfortunately, we chose to talk to the owners instead of the authorities."
Sandra Schultz, mother of the dogs’ owner, denied in a Monday telephone interview that anyone ever talked to her about the dogs biting a child.
Grandquist, who now works as an animal-control officer for La Plata County, said she worked for the homeowners’ association from September 1999 until October. She said the homeowners’ association was uneven in its enforcement of covenants governing animals.
"There’s just numerous cases where they let people off with dangerous dogs," she said. "It depends on how nice these people’s houses are – if they’re rich. All I wanted to do was do public safety, and they sabotaged my efforts at that all the time."
Grandchamp, the sheriff’s investigator, denied the appeals board showed favoritism.
"We listened to the complaint," he said. "Listened to both sides, and then we made a panel decision. We overturned some of (Grandquist’s citations), but there was extenuating circumstances."
It was the practice of the homeowners’ association to warn property owners rather than pet owners, Grandquist said. So she dealt with Schultz rather than Schultz’s son, Grandquist said.
"She always complied," Grandquist said. "She always put the dogs up. She tied them up, and she got them rabies vaccinations. She did the best she could."
Grandquist said if she had been allowed to do her job then she would have warned Schultz again, and the problem would have been fixed before the attack on Garrett. But she said she was not allowed to patrol the area where the attack occurred.
"It’s gross negligence on the part of the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association," she said. "They were so focused on trying to get rid of me that they were negligent in not letting me patrol that area."
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