Waukegan man pleads not guilty in pit bull attack

The owner of two Waukegan pit bulls that attacked and mauled a 19-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to criminal charges Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

John Hodnik, 41, faces up to three years in prison if convicted of felony reckless conduct in the Sept. 11 attack.

Lake County Assistant State's Attorney Victor O'Block said 19-year-old Kiara Lynn was walking past Hodnik's residence at 2107 Waverly Place when the dogs attacked her.

Police said the dogs were chained to a rail on Hodnik's porch, but the chains broke when the dogs pulled away from the rail.

Lynn suffered serious injuries to her scalp and ear, as well as several bite marks to her body before the dogs were pulled away by people in the area. The dogs were taken on the day of the attack by Waukegan Animal Control and euthanized.

Lynn has filed a lawsuit against Hodnik seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

Circuit Judge Victoria Rossetti scheduled a trial of the case for March 2 and ordered Hodnik to appear in court Feb. 24.

She also told Hodnik he faces an additional year in the county jail if his court supervision for a January 2008 conviction for driving with a revoked license is revoked because of the new offense.