Animal rights activists rally against man accused of torturing, killing pit bulls
A group of nine women rallied in front of Lake County bond court early Tuesday in support of a mandatory maximum sentence for a Waukegan man accused of beating a family member and viciously killing three pit bulls.
The rallying animal rescuers admitted Tuesday they were a bit confused on the court proceedings for Juan Rositas, 49. They thought the Waukegan man was up for a bond hearing Tuesday, when he was only up for a quick preliminary hearing in Lake County bond court.
"We are here to support the Lake County State's Attorney's Office and push for the maximum prison sentence possible," said animal rights activist Shelley Buntais. "So far, they have done a wonderful job."
They said they would continue to rally in growing numbers until the case goes to trial.
Rositas is jailed and ordered held on $750,000 bail for using hammers, a baseball bat and a plastic bag to kill three dogs from November 2014 and January 2015, authorities said. If found guilty on the most serious charge, he could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison.
Rositas also faces 30 years in prison if found guilty on charges of armed violence, aggravated domestic battery, intimidation and stalking after attacking an unidentified family member in Rositas' Waukegan home between April 5 and April 10, authorities said.
Rositas is being held in Lake County jail until he posts the required 10 percent of his bail and receives psychological testing through Lake County pretrial services.
Authorities said one dog was repeatedly choked, hit with a claw hammer and punched while living in Rositas' home on Thanksgiving. It was killed when Rositas placed a plastic bag over its head and suffocated it, authorities said.
Another dog was punched and kicked repeatedly during a two-week period in December, before it was killed when Rositas hit it in the head with a sledgehammer, authorities said. The third dog was hit repeatedly with a claw hammer and a baseball bat until it died Jan. 1, authorities said.
The dogs were buried in Rositas' backyard, authorities said. All three animals were later exhumed from the property and given a canine autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Authorities did not release details about the attack against the family member.
The case against Rositas is due to be reviewed by the Lake County grand jury this week, authorities said. His arraignment date will be set at that time.