Saturday, June 30, 2012
The following is a selection of police-related items reported in area Patches recently. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.
East Dundee Firefighters Battle Blaze At 'Community Thrift Store' Several area fire departments responded to a blaze at the Community Thrift Store at 900 E. Main St. in East Dundee Thursday. The store is located at the corner of Route 25 and Route 72. Video of the aftermath of the fire is attached to this story. Naperville Four Woman Arrested in Prostitution Sting Four women were arrested and charged with prostitution at a Naperville hotel Friday after the Naperville Police Department participated in the FBI’s “Operation Cross County VI,” a nationwide crackdown on child sex trafficking. “Even though our arrests didn’t net any children involved in prostitution, it was under that particular operation,” Naperville Police Department Sgt. Gregg…
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Chicagoland news to talk about: Fall Veto Session to decide gambling, pension reform, and red-light cameras.
An Elgin man who pleaded guilty to and was convicted of murder in a 2001 slaying has been granted a retrial after he argued that his previous 30-year prison sentence was not harsh enough. Benny Deanda Jr., 26, of Elgin, was given a 30-year-sentence for the murder of 16-year-old Mario Jiminez. As the Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session rallies on in Springfield, debates over gambling, pension reform, red-light cameras in Chicago and tax cuts for Sears and other companies threatening to leave the state remain ongoing. Last-minute action on any of these issues is likely. See where the issues stand and stay posted with the Huffington Post coverage of the Illinois Fall Veto Session. A Harvard couple was arrested Nov. 8 for mistreating…
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Animal advocates say Diane Eldrup’s sentence was stronger than in past cases and that justice was served.
When Diane Eldrup was sentenced to 2½ years in jail this week for the starving deaths of some 30 animals, it was a victory for animal rights advocates, because not so long ago Eldrup would have gotten off with probation. “It is definitely a strong sentence for a case like that and it sends a strong message,” said Adam Parascandola, director of animal cruelty issues for the Humane Society of the United States. “I think the county should definitely be applauded. They took this very seriously. Failure to provide food and water is the No. 1, most common form of neglect that is charged. Historically courts have not taken that as seriously,” Parascandola said in a phone interview. Parascandola said most courts would not be as open to trying to …
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Judge Booras says Diane Eldrup had a mean spirit and needs incarceration and rehabilitation.
A judge today sentenced Diane Eldrup, the woman convicted of numerous counts of animal abuse and torture in September, to two and a half years of prison. That is likely the longest sentence in an animal abuse case in Lake County history, said Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Mermel, who prosecuted the case. Nineteenth Judicial Court Judge James Booras said incarceration was necessary because of the seriousness of the crime. “It takes a certain meanness of spirit, a certain meanness of heart,” Booras said. “I’m not seeking to insult history, but I would say that she had a concentration camp for dogs. She was taking them in so she could kill them.” Booras said Eldrup’s crimes were beyond human comprehension. He said Eldrup did not want to …
Thursday, September 8, 2011
The jury delivered its verdict about 10 p.m. Sept. 8.
A jury found Diane Eldrup guilty of 18 counts of animal torture, 18 counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 18 counts of cruelty to animals shortly after 10 p.m. Sept. 8. "There is no doubt this sends a message not only to Diane Eldrup to others who would do similar crimes," Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel said. Sentencing for Eldrup is set for Oct. 18. Animal torture, a Class 3 felony, carries a sentence up to five years in prison; aggravated animal cruelty, a Class 4 felony, carries a sentence of up to three years in prison. Eldrup continues to be free on bail. During closing statements, the prosecution argued the testimony showed Eldrup knowingly tortured the dogs. "They had no food, no water; the defendant starved the dogs," …
Judge denies defense motion that prosecution did not show evidence that the deaths were intentional.
Two veterinarians said Thursday that the six dogs sent for necropsy from the Muddy Paws site had died of starvation. Their statements came on the second day of testimony at Lake County Circuit Court. Diane Eldrup is charged with 18 felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty and 18 felony counts of animal torture. Dr. Ned Bartlett, a Winthrop Harbor veterinarian, provided details of his examination of three of the dogs discovered at the former shelter and boarding facility in Deer Park. Under Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Mermel's questioning, Bartlett told the jury the three dogs he examined were severely underweight, weighing less than half of what would be normal for their lengths. He also said none of the dogs had any contents in …
Testimony continues at Muddy Paws animal cruelty trial.
Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel and co-prosecutors brought a total of eight witnesses to the stand on the first day of the Muddy Paws animal cruelty and animal torture trial Sept. 7 at Lake County Circuit Court. Two of the witnesses testified about their experiences meeting in November with Diane Eldrup, the woman charged with animal cruelty, about a month before dead and decaying dogs were discovered at the Deer Park boarding and shelter facility. Courtney Randle, an animal warden for Lake County Animal Control, told the court she was dispatched to the Muddy Paws facility on Nov. 16. Randle said Eldrup told her not to come inside the house because she was moving in six weeks and the facility was messy. Randle asked what happened…
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Prosecution in animal torture case to show dogs died of starvation over many months.
Prosecutors say Diane Eldrup, the woman being tried for animal cruelty, left the dogs at Muddy Paws "to die a slow and agonizing death." Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel, who is co-prosecuting the case, told the jury that the 18 counts were for the 14 dogs found dead and four more survivors found at Muddy Paws, a former boarding facility and rescue in Deer Park, on Dec. 16. The prosecutor's statements was part of opening statements by prosecution and defense in the Muddy Paws animal cruelty trial that gave an indication of how both sides will plea their case. Eldrup is charged with 18 counts of aggravated animal cruelty, a Class 4 felony with a maximum punishment of one to three years in jail, and 18 counts of animal torture, a …
Ellen
8:59 pm on Friday, November 11, 2011
Don't think he would have had a jury if he plead guilty. more ›