Round Lake woman convicted, jailed for dog deaths
For allowing 11 dogs to suffer inside a windowless van on a 90-degree day, Griselda Martinez was sentenced Thursday to 30 days in jail and two years of probation.
Cook County Judge Marc Martin found the Round Lake woman guilty of misdemeanor animal cruelty, specifically a "violation of an owner's duties," in failing to provide humane care for 11 dogs in her possession. Two of the dogs died.
Martin prohibited the 42-year-old single mom from owning, breeding or possessing any animals during her probation term. He also ordered her to pay $6,193 in restitution to the Palatine Police Department for the emergency veterinary care the Golf Rose Animal Hospital in Schaumburg provided the 10 bulldogs and French bulldogs and one Pomeranian.
Palatine police found the dogs Aug. 16, 2015, inside a van parked at an auto-parts store. Martinez testified she was taking the dogs from Round Lake to Streator when the vehicle's air conditioning failed, forcing her and a companion to stop at the store to purchase coolant. Palatine detective Art Delgadillo, the first officer on the scene, testified he found the dogs without food or water, sitting in urine and feces, and stacked in crates inside the vehicle.
Two of the dogs subsequently died from asphyxiation, said Golf Rose veterinarian Dr. Christina McCratic. She testified all the animals suffered from skin and ear infections and in some cases other issues related to neglect. The nine surviving dogs were adopted.
Martin reproached Martinez for "abdicating her duties as an owner of companion animals" by "placing them in harm's way and exposing them to inhumane conditions." He praised Delgadillo for his efforts to rescue the animals and get them medical attention.
"If it were not for the diligent actions of officer Delgadillo, there could have been more deceased animals in this case," said Martin, who found Martinez's testimony not credible.
He described as "fanciful" her claims that Delgadillo lied, that he prevented her from taking the animals to a vet, and that she and a family member removed the dogs from the van, not Delgadillo.
"A defendant does not have the right to come into this court and commit perjury," said Martin, who criticized Martinez's attempt to "pull the wool over (his) eyes with false testimony."
Martinez could have accepted responsibility, Martin said.
Defense attorney Lawrence Wade argued against incarceration, calling the situation "an unfortunate event" and insisting Martinez's efforts to repair the van's air conditioning showed an attempt "to remedy a bad situation." He asked Martin to allow his client to surrender in 30 days.
Martin denied the request, saying he was not confident Martinez, who is not a U.S. citizen, would return to court.