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Case ID: 13425

Classification: Neglect / Abandonment

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Prosecutor(s):	Nicole Moore
Defense(s):	Robert Michael Duffy
Judge(s):	Richard Schoenstedt

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Case #13425 Rating: 2.0 out of 5

Horse neglect, 3 found dead
Manhattan, IL (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 3, 2008
County: Will

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Sonia Herrera

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Channahon woman has been arrested for allegedly mistreating and neglecting several horses.

Sonia Herrera, 31, of 25300 W. Old Kerry Road was arrested and booked into the county jail Tuesday [Jan 29, 2008]. Herrera has been charged with four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, one count of cruel treatment of an animal and one count of failing to properly dispose of animal remains.

Will County Sheriff's spokesman Pat Barry said the investigation of Herrera began Jan. 3 when deputies checked on a complaint from Will County Animal Control at a farm at 16424 Sweedler Road.

"Detective Dan Jungles, our 'pet detective,' found three dead horses in a small enclosure and five malnourished and emaciated horses in the barn area," Barry said.

Strangely, it was during the Jan. 3 search of the area near the farm that investigators discovered a stolen Lincoln Navigator that was later found to contain the partially dismembered body of Gerardo DeLatorre, 37, of Lyons.

Barry said the SUV's location was "absolute coincidence" and investigators had found no links between the two cases.

Jungles, Detective Jack Ellingham and other detectives worked with Will County Animal Control and the Illinois Department of Agriculture to identify Herrera as the farm owner and look after the surviving animals.

Barry said the three horses appear to have been dead for several months.

"The other animals were taken to a farm in McHenry County and treated. A veterinarian said on a 10-point scale, the health of the surviving five ranged between 2 and 4," said Barry.

Barry said Herrera was informed she would be receiving citations from animal control soon after the horses were discovered.

On Friday, Jungles and Ellingham met with the Will County state's attorney's office to discuss the case and Chief Judge Stephen White issued a $50,000 warrant for Herrera's arrest later that day.

Case Updates

A woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to letting four horses starve last winter on a Manhattan farm.

Will County Judge Richard Schoenstedt scheduled Sonia Herrera's sentencing hearing for Oct. 28. Her punishment could range from 30 months of probation to three years in prison.

Herrera, 32, of West Old Kerry Road in Channahon, was arrested in January and has been charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, cruel treatment of an animal and failing to properly dispose of animal remains.

At that time, Herrera and her husband owned a farm on Sweedler Road in Manhattan. The couple were divorcing, and Herrera moved away.

Earlier that month, a Will County detective went to the farm and found three dead horses in a small fenced area. Five thin horses were housed in a barn with a muddy floor and without bedding.

One other horse found on the property was owned by someone else. That horse was well-fed.

Authorities then gave Herrera several days to feed and take care of her animals, but she didn't do anything, Will County Assistant State's Attorney Nicole Moore said. Although Herrera asked someone to take care of her horses, she never gave that person any food to feed them, Moore said.

Before he allowed Herrera to plead guilty, the judge made sure that she understood the proceedings. Although the state agreed to dismiss the charges of cruel treatment of an animal and failing to properly dispose of animal remains, Herrera made a "blind plea" -- meaning that the state won't recommend any particular punishment to the judge.

Source: WMAQ - AUG 13, 2008
Update posted on Aug 13, 2008 - 7:08PM

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Horse neglect, 3 found deadManhattan, IL (US)

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Horse neglect, 3 found dead
Manhattan, IL (US)