Aurora man charged with beating dog
An Aurora man who served jail time for dragging a chained dog to death behind his vehicle in 1993 is in trouble again.
Phillip Rinn, 41, of the 300 block of Kendall Street, was charged Nov. 15 with misdemeanor animal cruelty after officers were dispatched to his home at about 8:30 p.m., the Kane County Sheriff's Department announced Tuesday.
A neighbor had called police, saying Rinn was outside beating his 1½-year-old Labrador-shepherd mix, Magda, with a stick.
An officer arrived on the scene, found a naked and sweating Rinn outside the home and the dog cowering in fear with blood coming from its snout, according to the police report.
Rinn was charged with misdemeanor cruelty to a dog and released the next day after posting $100 bond.
Kane County prosecutors are deciding whether to upgrade the charge against Rinn to a felony, according to the sheriff's department.
Lt. Patrick Gengler, spokesman for the sheriff's department, said veterinarians at the VAC Animal Hospital in Aurora examined the dog's injuries, which included at least five broken teeth.
Based on that, prosecutors could upgrade the misdemeanor, which carries a maximum of a year in the county jail, to a felony punishable by up to three years in a state prison.
“With his prior history, what he did in 1993 and what he allegedly did again, this is a type of person who probably shouldn't own pets and should be held accountable,” Gengler said. “If he's doing this to animals, how far will he take it?”
According to court records, Rinn was guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty from an Aug. 20, 1993 incident in Aurora and sentenced to 30 days in jail, 100 hours community service and a year of probation.
Gengler said he reviewed the police report from the time, which said Rinn tied one end of a chain around a dog's neck and the other end around the bumper of a vehicle and he drove down the street. The dog did not survive.
Gengler said the dog in this case is expected to make a full recovery.
Rinn is due in court on Dec. 2.