Two Lombard men indicted on dogfighting charges
Two young Lombard men are facing felony charges after authorities accused them of conducting a dogfight with their pet pit bulls last month to entertain guests during a party in one of their homes.
Robert G. Kollman, 21, of 385 N. Grace, and Brian A. Moll, 22, of 135 S. Lombard, will be arraigned Monday in DuPage County on dog fighting charges.
Police said they were called to Kollman's home at 2:45 a.m. May 23 and discovered the two dogs fighting before a small crowd of people. The two pit bulls, Rampage, who is owned by Kollman, and Ace, who belongs to Moll, were not seriously injured.
They are being kept at the DuPage County Animal Control Shelter. The indictment alleges the defendants "knowingly conducted for purposes of entertainment, a show, involving a fight between dogs."
DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said it is the first time he recalls his office prosecuting a dogfighting case as a felony.
"It was clearly premeditated," Birkett said. "They knew one or more dogs were going to be severely injured."
"People who find excitement in that," he added, "have something wrong with them."
But Kollman's attorney, George P. Kallas, said authorities misread the situation. He said Kollman was hosting a party at his home when the two dogs began fighting on their own.
Kallas said police did not find any of the usual evidence of a dogfight, such as dog pens, treadmills, chains, weights, medicine, bait animals, or promotional materials.
"This was not a promoted dogfight," Kallas said. "This was just two dogs that got into a fight on their own. My client loves dogs. This is not a (former NFL star) Michael Vick. He's a clean kid. This is blown totally out of proportion."
Kallas said his client has photos of cuts on his hands from when he tried to break up the fight. The attorney said Kollman's mother is desperately trying to get Rampage back - a move prosecutors are fighting. They also are seeking to charge the defendants $10 a day for the dogs' care at the shelter.
Lombard Deputy Chief Dane Cuny said a concerned citizen called 911 after hearing sounds of dogs fighting. He said Kollman's parents were out of town. Officers arrived to find about a half-dozen people standing in the backyard watching the dogs fight, Cuny said.
"The officers observed the two dogs fighting and the two defendants egging them on and making no attempt to break it up," Cuny said. "The dogs were bloody. They had to be taken to a 24-hour veterinarian and treated."
Moll remains held in the DuPage County jail on a $20,000 bond. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation for mob action. Kollman was set free one day after his arrest after posting the required 10 percent of his $10,000 bond.
A DuPage County grand jury indicted both men Thursday, according to circuit clerk records released Friday. Prosecutors also charged them with contributing to the delinquency of minors on suspicion people younger than 21 were drinking beer at the gathering.
If convicted of dog fighting, the men face a possible sentence of probation or up to three years in prison.