Probation, fine for Elgin woman who starved dog to death
A 24-year-old Elgin woman accused of leaving two of her dogs on her apartment balcony for a week while she was out of town has been sentenced to 18 months probation and fined nearly $2,000 after pleading guilty to reduced charges, according to court records.
Tyquence M. Jude, of the 1200 block of Fleetwood Drive, was charged with felony animal cruelty after authorities found one dog starved to death on her balcony in October.
Another dog was severely malnourished, according to authorities.
Jude spent 13 days at the Kane County jail before being released after pleading guilty to animal cruelty last week, records show.
Jude must pay $1,979 in fines and fees and $939 of that is restitution for the care of her other dog, which she agreed to forfeit to authorities.
“Jude admitted to leaving her two dogs out on the balcony of her apartment for approximately seven days while Jude was visiting family in the city of Chicago,” read an affidavit from Elgin Police Animal Control Officer Matthew Ciesielczyk to support the state's forfeiture petition.
According to Elgin police, Jude was arrested last month after a resident saw a dead dog with its head slumped over the metal railings on the third-floor balcony.
Police said a female chihuahua-shih tzu mix named Buttercup was dead from starvation; the dog only weighed 3.25 pounds when it should have weighed between 8 and 10 pounds.
Another dog, a male shih tzu named Gucci was taken to the Golf Rose Animal Hospital in Schaumburg.
“His underweight condition and matting indicated that he had been underfed and neglected,” according to an affidavit filed by authorities in support of Jude forfeiting the dog.
Jude forfeited Gucci in a hearing Wednesday, records show.
Judge James Hallock accepted the plea last week in which prosecutors reduced the charge from a felony, which was punishable by up to three years in prison, to a misdemeanor.
Jude's defense attorney, Timothy J. Thill, could not be reached for comment.
If Jude violates probation, should could be resentenced to up to a year in jail.