'He Loved That Dog,' Animal Cruelty Defendant Cries In Court: Lawyer

JOLIET, IL — After spending 25 hours in Will County's Jail, 22-year-old Sebastian Trujillo was released Tuesday evening in connection with the felony charges resulting from Monday's death of one of Trujillo's husky breed dogs on Joliet's near west side.

The Joliet resident has retained private counsel, hiring downtown Joliet lawyer Neil Patel to defend him on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals.

"I just know he's really distraught," Patel told Joliet Patch's editor during a Wednesday morning interview at Will County's Courthouse. "He was crying when he was in court when the State (prosecutors) was going through the factual allegations."

Will County Judge Fred Harvey granted the Will County State's Attorney's Office request for a $25,000 bail against Trujillo. Joliet police arrested him Monday afternoon at his apartment house in the 100 block of Clement after officers found one of Trujillo's huskies dead on the bathroom floor.

As far as conditions of bail, Judge Harvey ordered Trujillo to surrender all of his guns, plus, he is now prohibited from having any animals. Patel said the surrendering of weapons is a standard bond condition for criminal defendants.

At the time of Trujillo's arrest, authorities confiscated the young man's second husky breed dog from the same Clement Street apartment unit.

"He loved them both," Patel said of his client.

Patel said he was not prepared to discuss his defense strategy or answer any questions about the events that led up to Jillo's death.

"I just need to get the facts. We need to obtain all of the records of the case along with any veterinary records for the animals," Patel told Patch.

According to Tuesday's Joliet police press release: "It appeared that Trujillo had used a thin (leash) with a noose-like collar to drag the dog across the floor of the apartment to place her in a cage, at which time the dog’s body fell limp, and she passed away."

Patel said his client is a responsible young man, evidenced by the fact that he not only had a Firearm Owners Identification card, but Trujillo also had an Illinois Conceal and Carry License.

"You don't get a carry and conceal license unless you're a responsible person," Patel said.

Related Patch story:

Husky Dragged To Death At Joliet Apartment, Owner Arrested: Police