DeKALB – Two DeKalb residents are facing animal cruelty charges after police said a dog in their care lost its leg after an injury to the animal was left untreated.
Jaylen J. Jones, 24, and Tatiana J. Lee, 31, both of the 1100 block of Varsity Boulevard, DeKalb, were arrested and each charged with aggravated animal cruelty, a Class 4 felony; cruel treatment of animals, a Class A misdemeanor; and neglecting the duties of the owner of an animal, a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted of the felony charge, Jones and Lee could face up to three years in prison.
According to DeKalb County court documents, DeKalb police recently took custody of a dog at the police department after Jones told police the animal was running loose. Police alleged Jones and Lee delivered the dog to the department at 700 West Lincoln Highway, claiming it was a stray animal they found.
Police learned Jones and Lee lived with the dog.
“The dog had an injury that was severe and animal control was notified immediately,” according to court documents. “The dog was seen by a veterinarian ... and the doctor observed one of the dog’s front legs was wrapped in a bandage from a previous incident and left untreated for a period of time.”
As a result of the injury, the dog’s leg fell off, records state.
Police later found information from a different veterinary clinic that showed Lee claimed ownership of the dog, according to court documents.
Both Jones and Lee separately appeared in court from DeKalb County Jail via Zoom on Wednesday.
When 23rd Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick was reading off the charges that Jones faced and explained the Class B misdemeanor also could include abandoning the animal, Jones said, “I didn’t abandon her.”
“This is not the time to talk to me about the merits of your case,” Buick told Jones.
Both Jones and Lee told court officials Wednesday they are employed full time.
Buick said Jones had no prior criminal history or failures to appear in court, and set the man’s bond at a $10,000 recognizance, meaning he would be released on just his signature.
Buick said Lee also had no failures to appear in court, has no other prior animal cruelty charges or convictions against her and has a limited criminal history out of Kane County. Buick also set a $10,000 recognizance bond for Lee.
“As condition of bail, you are not to have any unsupervised contact with animals or live in home with companion animals until further order of the court,” Buick said to Jones and Lee separately during bond call in open court Wednesday.
Lee and Jones are due back in court at 10:30 a.m. March 7 via Zoom in front of DeKalb County Judge Philip Montgomery.
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