Dog killing trial set to begin on Monday

Both sides of the case against a Grayslake-area man charged with shooting a stray dog said they will be prepared to start selecting jurors for the trial Monday.

Elvin Dooley, 57, faces up to five years in prison if convicted of animal torture, animal cruelty and possession of a weapon without a state Firearm Owner's Identification card.

Dooley, of the 24000 block of Townline Road, is also charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, but Assistant State's Attorney Michael Mermel said Thursday that case will be tried separately.

A small black dog that had been dropped off at the Save-A-Pet No Kill Adoption Center near Dooley's house ran off Jan. 26 before staff members could coax it inside.

One staff member told police she was chasing the dog and saw Dooley fire a rifle at the animal from a window in his house. The dog died of a single gunshot wound to the neck.

Police said they later recovered 17 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition Dooley admitted owning.

Dooley is not allowed to possess any weapons in this state because he has a 1978 burglary conviction in Alabama, Mermel said.

Mermel said he has to try the weapons case separately from the cruelty case because of legal restrictions involving referring to someone as a felon in most proceedings.

Dooley could face up to 14 years in prison of convicted in the weapons case.

He is held in the Lake County jail on $250,000 bond.