Statement regarding investigation/charge in Joliet Pit Bull Case
July 31
Like everyone who loves pets, State’s Attorney Jim Glasgow was appalled by the horrific and eventually fatal injuries suffered by a pit bull named “America” who picked up a lit explosive device on the Fourth of July in Joliet, Illinois.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has filed the strongest felony charge possible under Illinois law based upon the evidence that has been obtained by police and prosecutors up to this point. Upon conviction, the felony charge in this case carries a potential penalty of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
State’s Attorney Glasgow has been aggressively fighting against animal cruelty throughout his career. In 1999, he authored a statute that legally defined the torture of animals and made the abuse of an animal a felony for the first time in Illinois history. It provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $25,000. He also made certain the statute provides for a mandatory psychiatric evaluation of the animal abuser. As the caring owner of two amazing dogs, a Great Dane named Hobbs and a Border Collie named Maverick, State’s Attorney Glasgow is always ready to prosecute criminals under the animal torture statute that he wrote when the charges are warranted by the available evidence. He has immediately begun work on new animal cruelty legislation that would address the conduct like that alleged in this case and also adding much needed protections for therapy dogs and the newly authorized court service dogs. It should be noted that Jackson, our current therapy dog for the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, will soon be utilized as a court service dog.
State’s Attorney Glasgow takes all allegations of animal cruelty so seriously that for years he has designated a dedicated and passionate prosecutor to intensively review and aggressively charge these cases based upon the available evidence.
The investigation into this case is ongoing. When or if additional evidence becomes available, the State’s Attorney’s Office will review the case and give all due consideration to filing additional charges.