Judge won't throw out charges in Aurora bird hoarding
A judge Tuesday declined to dismiss animal-hoarding charges against a man accused of keeping nearly 500 dead and living birds inside his Aurora home.
The attorney for defendant David Skeberdis argued the case should be dropped because city officials didn't advise his client on how to come into compliance with animal welfare guidelines or give him time to do so.
DuPage County Judge Bruce Kelsey said that while “there may be issues” with whether the birds were removed in accordance with civil procedures, there was no reason Skeberdis couldn't be criminally charged.
The city took 478 birds — 120 of them dead — from Skeberdis' townhouse on the 200 block of Shadybrook Lane in October. Skeberdis was later charged with misdemeanor animal hoarding and sued by the city for maintaining what officials contend is a “nuisance” property.
Skeberdis, 58, already has agreed not to seek return of the birds, which were taken in by the Greater Chicago Cage Bird Club, according to defense attorney Roderick Mollison. The case returns to court April 10.