Aurora Township man gets year in prison for beating dog
By Matt Hanley mhanley@stmedianetwork.com May 31, 2012 4:30PM
Phillip Rinn of Aurora township, walks into the Kane County Courthouse for his sentancing on Thursday, May 31, 2012 after pleading guilty to animal cruelty for the second time. | Brian Powers~Sun-Times Media
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ST. CHARLES TOWNSHIP — Nearly 19 years after he received probation for killing an animal that aggravated him, an Aurora Township man was sentenced to one year in prison for beating another dog.
Phillip Rinn, 43, of the 300 block of South Kendall Street, pleaded guilty in April to felony aggravated animal cruelty. On Thursday, Judge Tim Sheldon sentenced Rinn to a year in prison.
Rinn apologized for his actions and said he wished he could take back the beating.
“I am very remorseful for the actions that put me in the position that I’m in today,” Rinn said. “I want to get help. I want to move on. I take responsibility for what I’ve done. I’m sorry.”
Rinn 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.
In 1993, Rinn pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to an animal. At that time, 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.”
For that incident, 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.
Rinn’s attorney said since being charged with the latest offense, Rinn has lost two jobs. Attorney Ned Khan said Rinn, who served in Desert Storm, may be suffering from untreated post traumatic stress disorder.
Rinn was eligible for probation, but Sheldon said Rinn’s actions have shown that is not an effective deterrent.
“I pray he gets the help he needs, but only God can forgive him for being a disgrace to the U.S. Marine Corps and the human race,” said Jeannette Schulz, director of On Angels Wings, an animal rescue group.
