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Case ID: 12631
Classification: Beating
Animal: cat
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Defense(s): Morgan Scroggins


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Case #12631



Kitten slammed against doorframe, killed
Madison, IL (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Oct 14, 2007
County: Madison

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Steve D. Skoklo

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

When a kitten wandered into a Madison bar last month, the city's former humane officer picked it up, slammed it against a door frame and threw it onto the floor, killing it, prosecutors said.

The former humane officer, Steve D. Skoklo, who also is a former city policeman, was charged Wednesday with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prison. He could not be reached for comment.

Assistant State's Attorney Amy Maher said the kitten, an orange, 3-month-old stray, wandered into McGee's Bar & Grill on Oct. 14 while Skoklo was there. She said it's unclear why he allegedly hurt the kitten. Other patrons called Madison police, who took the dead kitten and disposed of it.

Stephanee Smith, a spokeswoman for the state's attorney's office, said the kitten was killed about 11:30 p.m.

"We take animal-abuse charges very seriously in Madison County," Smith said.

Skoklo worked as a Madison police officer from December 1998 to January 2003, when he resigned without stating a reason. Shortly before his resignation, he was investigated in connection with the beating of a man in Granite City. He was charged with aggravated battery, but the outcome of the case could not be determined Wednesday.

The city employed Skoklo again from 2005 until August of this year as its humane officer. In the latter job, he was not a sworn police officer and did not have any police powers, but he did investigate animal-related matters, such as dog bites or residents having more pets than allowed under city ordinances. The job also included catching loose or stray animals. Mayor John Hamm said Skoklo's employment was terminated because he suffered an injury that prevented him from performing the job.

Skoklo's father, also named Steve Skoklo, was the Madison police chief for 10 years before retiring in 2005.

Bail for the younger Skoklo was set at $25,000. He had not yet been arrested on the charge as of Wednesday evening.


Case Updates

A former animal control officer for the city of Madison pleaded guilty Tuesday of aggravated cruelty to animals for killing a stray kitten that wandered into a bar in Madison in 2007.

Steven Skoklo, 36, entered the plea in exchange for a sentence of a year's probation, payment of $500 court costs and a $500 donation to the Granite City Association for the Protection of Animals. He must also receive alcohol or substance abuse treatment.

Skoklo was accused of slamming a 3-month-old tabby kitten into a door frame at McGee's Bar in Madison on Oct. 14, 2007. He had been scheduled to go on trial on the felony charge Tuesday morning.

Skoklo was Madison's animal control officer from May 2005 through August 2007 but Madison Mayor John Hamm said Skoklo was never accused of mistreating animals while holding that job. Skoklo had earlier worked as a Madison police officer.
Source: stltoday.com - Sep 20, 2011
Update posted on Sep 20, 2011 - 11:06PM 
A Madison man has been charged with animal cruelty for allegedly slamming a kitten against a door frame at a bar and throwing it to the ground, killing it.

Madison County prosecutors today charged Steve D. Skoklo, 32, with aggravated animal cruelty, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

The charge accuses the defendant of hitting the 3-month-old, orange kitten against a door frame and throwing it to the ground on Oct. 14.

Authorities said the kitten, a stray, wandered into a Madison bar that Skoklo was at on that date. Patrons of the bar called Madison Police, who took the dead kitten and disposed of it.
Source: Belleville News-Democrat - Nov 7, 2007
Update posted on Nov 8, 2007 - 1:17PM 

References


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