Animal Abuse: Dog beaten, teeth broken - Aurora , IL | Pet-Abuse.Com Animal Cruelty Database

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Case ID: 16924

Classification: Beating

Animal: dog (non pit-bull)

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Attorneys/Judges

Defense(s):	Ned Khan
Judge(s):	Timothy Sheldon

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Dog beaten, teeth broken
Aurora , IL (US)

Incident Date: Monday, Nov 15, 2010
County: Kane

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Phillip Andrew Rinn

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

A 41-year-old Aurora man is again facing animal abuse charges, 17 years after he was sentenced to prison for dragging another dog to death.

Phillip Rinn, of the 300 block of South Kendall Street, was charged last week with misdemeanor cruelty to animals, the Kane County sheriff's office said.

At 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15, deputies were called for the report of a man beating a dog. Investigators determined that the 6-foot, 350-pound Rinn was punching a 1-year-old Lab-shepherd mix named Magda, deputies said. The dog had several broken teeth and was taken to the VAC Aurora Animal Hospital for treatment.

Police said the animal is expected to recover.

The Kane County state's attorney's office is reviewing the case and may upgrade the charge to a felony, police said. .

In 1993, Rinn pleaded guilty to cruelty to an animal. Police said Rinn admitted to chaining his dog, "Royal," by the neck and driving off in his car, dragging the dog down Peck Road in an attempt to kill it.

When the dog didn't die, police said Rinn told them he pulled over, ran over the dog and left it in a ditch. Rinn explained he was mad at the dog because it had chewed his car's vinyl roof and tried to bite his wife, police said.

There was a large outcry when the charges became public. Rinn said he got death threats and letters at his home. Even before his trial, he told The Beacon-News the death was an isolated incident blown out of proportion.

"I'm not some dog killer who did some sick deed," he said at the time. "I like dogs as much as anyone."

At his sentencing, Rinn said he was taking a rabid dog to the vet to be put down when it attacked. He ran it over with the car, he said, because he had no other options. The judge didn't believe his story.

Rinn was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years' probation, a $500 fine and 100 hours of community service. Rinn also had to promise never to mistreat an animal.

Case Updates

A 43-year-old Aurora Township man is facing up to three years in prison after pleading guilty to animal cruelty for the second time.

Phillip Rinn, of the 300 block of South Kendall Street, quietly entered his felony guilty plea Friday. He admitted to beating a 60-pound Lab-shepherd mix with a broom handle in November 2010.

According to Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Reagan McGuire, Rinn's neighbors called 911 at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15, 2010, after they saw him inside his house swinging a stick at the 1-year-old dog named Magda, which was howling in pain. The 6-foot, 350-pound Rinn then brought the dog outside and continued to beat the animal, prosecutors said.

When they arrived at Rinn's home, officers saw several pieces of broken wood in the house and found the dog's face was bloodied, prosecutors said. Rinn admitted to hitting the dog, prosecutors said.

The dog had five broken teeth, swelling under its jaw and an injury to its right eye. Although the dog needed surgery to repair its teeth, the animal has since made a full physical recovery, McGuire said.

First incident in '93

In 1993, Rinn pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to an animal. Police said Rinn admitted to chaining his dog, "Royal," by the neck and driving off in his car, dragging the dog down Peck Road in Kane County in an attempt to kill it.

When the dog didn't die, police said Rinn told them he pulled over, ran over the dog and left it in a ditch. Rinn explained he was mad at the dog because it had chewed his car's vinyl roof and tried to bite his wife, police said.

There was a large outcry when those charges became public. Rinn said he received death threats and letters at his home. Even before his trial, he told The Beacon-News the cruelty to the dog was an isolated incident blown out of proportion

"I'm not some dog killer who did some sick deed," he said at the time. "I like dogs as much as anyone."

At his sentencing, Rinn said he was taking a rabid dog to the vet to be put down when it attacked. He ran it over with the car, he said, because he had no other options. The judge didn't believe his story.

Rinn was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years' probation, a $500 fine and 100 hours of community service in that incident.

Rinn also had to promise never to mistreat an animal.

Sentencing in May

On Friday, Rinn and his attorney declined to comment.

Because his previous conviction was a misdemeanor rather than a felony, Rinn will not be eligible for an extended sentence, McGuire said. However, his prior conviction can be a factor in determining his sentence, McGuire said.

Rinn is eligible for probation. If he is sentenced to prison, it would be for at least one year.

His sentencing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 10.

Source: suntimes.com - Mar 23, 2012
Update posted on Mar 23, 2012 - 3:29PM

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An Aurora man convicted in the 1990s of dragging his dog to death could plead guilty to charges that he broke five of another dog's teeth in late 2010.

Phillip A. Rinn, 43, pleaded not guilty in March to felony animal cruelty charges stemming from a Nov. 15, 2010, arrest, but his attorney filed court papers last week indicating he could change his mind.

"The defendant would like to advance this case to enter a plea on this case," according to the motion by defense attorney Ned Khan, who could not be reached for comment.

Rinn, of the 300 block of South Kendall Street, was scheduled for a March 26 jury trial before Kane County Judge Timothy Sheldon. He is now due in court Feb. 24, according to court records.

The case initially drew animal rights protesters to the Kane County Judicial Center in St. Charles, but they have thinned out in recent months.

Rinn is free on bond while his case is pending.

Source: dailyherald.com - Feb 6, 2012
Update posted on Feb 6, 2012 - 8:46AM

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An Aurora man who was convicted in 1993 of dragging his dog to death and now facing charges he knocked out five of his dog's teeth, wants a judge to throw out his November 2010 arrest.

Phillip Rinn faces felony animal cruelty charges that carry a maximum prison term of three years, but probation also is an option.

Rinn's attorney, Ned Khan, filed a motion Friday seeking to throw out his client's arrest and suppress evidence that, if granted, would essentially torpedo the state's case.

Khan argues that Rinn's Fourth Amendment rights were violated and that he was coerced the night of Nov. 15 to agree to a search after Kane County sheriff's deputies were called to Rinn's home in the 300 block of Kendall Street.

The motion states that Rinn was shirtless when officers handcuffed him and refused to allow Rinn back into his home to get a shirt and lock up unless he signed a form allowing deputies to search the home itself.

Khan also contends that deputies arrested Rinn before talking to any witnesses.

"Therefore, all evidence found in the search is fruit of the poisonous tree of the tainted consent to search," the motion argues.

Judge Timothy Sheldon will hear oral arguments on the matter Sept. 1.

In 1993, Rinn was found guilty of dragging a chained dog behind his car and killing it. He served 30 days in the county jail and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.

In the current case, Rinn is accused of hitting Magda, a 1-year-old Labrador retriever-German shepherd mix, so hard that he broke five of the dog's teeth.

In mid-January, the dog was placed in a permanent, adoptive home and has recovered from its injuries. A judge has ruled Rinn has no right to get the dog back.

If convicted in the case, Rinn also could be ordered to pay restitution to the county for the dog's care, which officials estimate to be $2,600.

Source: dailyherald.com - May 27, 2011
Update posted on May 27, 2011 - 3:46PM

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An Aurora man charged with animal cruelty pleaded not guilty Thursday at the Kane County Judicial Center.

Phillip A. Rinn, 42, was indicted in December on one count of cruel treatment and one count of aggravated cruelty to a dog, which suffered broken teeth. He appeared Thursday with his attorney, Ned Khan, in front of Circuit Judge Timothy Q. Sheldon.

Rinn's next appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, April 28.

Source: kcchronicle.com - Mar 18, 2011
Update posted on Mar 18, 2011 - 6:37PM

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Jamie Cotner thought he was sending his pet of six years to a good home.

The west suburban Aurora man gave Eve away after he realized the sweet-natured pit bull-greyhound mix and his other dog were having trouble getting along.

"We had to keep them in separate rooms," Cotner said. "And it wasn't fair to either one."

That tough decision was made a tad easier by the fact the prospective new owner worked with Cotner's girlfriend's father and seemed eager for a dog to help him get over a divorce. The man also had a child, no other dogs and a big backyard at his house next to a forest preserve -- where Eve would have plenty of room to run.

Cotner said he and his two daughters even visited Eve a few times, until the new owner stopped returning phone calls. Disappointed but not necessarily concerned, he figured the guy didn't want to be bothered by the dog's former family.

Then he
That dog is healing. Gengler said the VAC Aurora Animal Hospital describes the new patient as sweet and lovable -- and plenty of folks have offered to adopt her.

Cotner hopes Eve survived Rinn as well. The animal abuser had told others the dog had run away -- and her former owner can only hope that's the case.

His worst nightmare is that Eve is lying in a shallow grave somewhere, with the chip implanted in her neck as the only way to identify her.

If Eve did escape and someone found her, Cotner wants to know she's OK.

"My ex-wife now has a big house with the kids," he said. "It would have been perfect for Eve."

Rinn's next court date is scheduled for Dec. 29 in Kane County. He remains free on $100 bail.

Source: myfoxchicago.com - Dec 5, 2010
Update posted on Dec 5, 2010 - 6:26PM

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Phillip A. Rinn, 41, of the 300 block of South Kendall Street, Aurora, was indicted Tuesday by a Kane County grand jury on one count of cruel treatment and one count of aggravated cruelty for allegedly beating a dog.

Each is a Class 4 felony. He appeared in court Wednesday to hear the charges, and his next court date is Dec. 29.

Also at Wednesday's hearing, the state dropped the misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.

Rinn remains free on $100 bail.

Kane County Sheriff's deputies were called to Rinn's house in November following a report that a dog was being beaten. Deputies took Rinn into custody while Kane County Animal Control took the dog to the VAC Aurora Animal Hospital to be treated. The dog, Magda, is a 1½-year-old lab-shepherd mix with broken teeth, according to police. Magda is expected to recover.

According to court records, Rinn was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty in 1993 in another incident in which he dragged a dog to death behind his car.

Source: kcchronicle.com - Dec 2, 2010
Update posted on Dec 2, 2010 - 9:34AM

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Dog beaten, teeth brokenAurora , IL (US)

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Dog beaten, teeth broken
Aurora , IL (US)