Joliet Man Did Not Kill His Dog, Charges Dismissed: Bretz

JOLIET, IL — Sebastian Trujillo, the 22-year-old resident who Joliet police said dragged one of his two husky dogs to its death inside his upstairs apartment in the 100 block of Clement Street in October, learned last week that all of his criminal charges have been dropped by the Will County State's Attorney Office of Jim Glasgow.

Joliet police took Trujillo away in handcuffs on Oct. 24, charging him with aggravated cruelty to animals and cruelty to animals. He had been the subject of multiple calls to Joliet police in the months leading up to his dog's death, according to the civil forfeiture complaint.

On Tuesday, Joliet criminal defense lawyer Chuck Bretz told Joliet Patch that "obviously we're very pleased and commend the state for doing the right thing."

In the aftermath of the death of Trujillo's 2-year-old husky dog named Jillo, a necropsy was performed, Bretz said. The necropsy found no signs of abuse to the dog, according to Bretz.

Bretz said it's possible the dog died of a heart attack or a stroke, but Bretz insisted that his client did not kill the animal.

"There was no evidence of any actual abuse to the animal," Bretz told Joliet Patch. "There was nothing really concrete to consider beyond a reasonable doubt. There was no abuse to the animal."

As for his client, "He has maintained his innocence all along," Bretz stressed.

As part of the civil forfeiture case, however, Bretz said his client agreed to voluntarily surrender ownership of his second dog, a female husky named Julie.

Bretz said the husky recently had a litter of puppies after being taken away from Trujillo and put into the Joliet Township Animal Control following his arrest.

Bretz said Trujillo was happy to learn that his female dog along with her litter are being adopted and they will live in good homes.

Bretz emphasized that Trujillo is not restricted from owning dogs in the future.

"He's not banned from ever having another pet again," Bretz said.

According to Joliet police records, Trujillo told police last October that "Jillo had been in a kennel and had made a mess by defecating in it ... in an attempt to clean up the mess, he tried dragging Jillo by his collar but that Jillo was able to escape the collar and to run away under a large table in the room."

The police report said Trujillo told the officers he then put a thin leash known as a slip lead around his dog's neck "so that he could drag the dog from out from under the table. This slip lead created a noose so that the dog could not escape the dragging."

Trujillo told the officers "he dragged the dog, Jillo, and then Jillo, suddenly pulled back and became limp .... before dying."

Trujillo took the Joliet police officers to the upstairs family room and the officers found Jillo, the dead dog, inside the bathroom's shower.

Related Joliet Patch coverage:

Animal Cruelty Defendant Must Forfeit Julie His Other Husky: Prosecutors

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

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