Convicted Joliet Dog Killer Back In Will County's Jail

JOLIET, IL — Twenty-two months after being given court probation for killing a dog in Joliet, Frank Hickmon is now in the custody of the Will County Jail.

On Saturday, officials with the Illinois Department of Corrections delivered the 31-year-old Jefferson City, Missouri resident to the Joliet detention facility on South Chicago Street. In December, Will County Judge Carmen Goodman revoked Hickmon's probation at the urging of the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow.

In June 2018, Hickmon dug a hole on a friend's property in Joliet and then fatally shot the man's dog. In March 2020, Judge Goodman gave Hickmon 24 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to the felony crime of aggravated cruelty to animals.

As part of his sentence, Hickmon was ordered to undergo mental health counseling and obligated to perform 200 hours of community service.

As of Dec. 3, 2021, "the defendant has failed to obtain his mental health evaluation ... the defendant has failed to show proof of community service work," noted Assistant State's Attorney Mark Fleszewski.

That same date, the Will County Probation Department issued a violation report against Hickmon, stating, "the defendant has not obtained a mental health evaluation as ordered on March 18, 2020. The defendant has not started the required 200 hours of community service work. It should be noted that the defendant is scheduled to terminate on March 16, 2022."

On June 23, 2018, "Frank was abusing my dog. He dug a hole and shot him in my backyard and covered him with dirt. I was not home, but my son David Jr. was. David Jr. witnessed this event," stated Joliet resident David R. Johnson, who lives in the 100 block of Barr Elm Avenue.

While the Will County Sheriff's deputies were trying to determine precisely where the gunshots came from, they encountered a juvenile boy and Hickmon, whose dad owns the house.

"I just shot the dog," Hickmon told sheriff's deputies, according to Will County police.

"During his stay, on multiple occasions, he was very aggressive toward the dog, Loco. Earlier this day, Hickmon was again playing aggressively with the dog, a one-and-a-half-year old Cane Corso. Hickmon had the dog in a choke hold when the dog got angry and bit Hickmon in the arm," sheriff's officials said at the time.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Man Who Dug Hole, Shot Joliet Dog Gets Probation

Man Who Dug Hole, Shot Joliet Dog Several Times Awaits Sentence

Man Shoots Dog To Death In Joliet: Sheriff