CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A 28-year-old Crystal Lake woman pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge stemming from an investigation into sexual abuse of a dog at a Huntley home, according to the McHenry County State's Attorney's Office.
Katelyn E. Heiden entered an open plea of guilty to one count of sexual conduct with an animal, a Class 4 felony, before Judge Mark R. Gerhardt. Under the open plea, there is no agreement between prosecutors and Heiden regarding her sentence, which will be determined by the judge.
Heiden's charging document alleges that between June 1 and July 1, 2025, she knowingly permitted sexual contact with an animal to be conducted at her residence on Yardley Drive in Huntley. The document alleges that Heiden recorded her boyfriend, Efin J. Nolte, engaging in sexual contact with a dog.
The charge against Heiden specifically alleges that she permitted or aided the conduct by recording it at the residence under her control. The charging document does not allege that Heiden herself engaged in sexual contact with the dog.
The case began July 11, 2025, when Huntley police received a report involving a video of a man engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with a dog.
Police determined the video had been created in Huntley and identified Nolte and Heiden as suspects. Investigators later obtained search warrants for electronic devices belonging to the pair and conducted forensic examinations of the devices.
Both Nolte and Heiden were arrested in November 2025 and each initially faced one count of sexual conduct with an animal. Prosecutors said at the time that the charge was not a detainable offense under Illinois' Pretrial Fairness Act, so the pair were released from custody pending further court proceedings.
Heiden ultimately pleaded guilty to the felony charge. The McHenry County State's Attorney's Office said the investigation uncovered digital evidence corroborating the allegations.
"This case involved deeply disturbing conduct that was uncovered through a thorough investigation and the forensic examination of electronic evidence," State's Attorney Randi L. Freese said. "Animals are vulnerable and depend upon people for their care and protection. Our office will continue to work with law enforcement to hold accountable those who criminally exploit or abuse them."
As a condition of Heiden's pretrial release, court records ordered her to refrain from approaching or communicating with domesticated animals and placed her under the supervision of McHenry County Probation and Court Services. The court also ordered her to obtain a sex-offender evaluation and comply with its terms.
Heiden is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Courtroom 302. Because she entered an open plea, prosecutors and the defense did not agree on a sentence, and Judge Gerhardt will determine the sentence within the applicable statutory range.
Meanwhile, Nolte is next expected in court on Sept. 22.
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