Judge: Hamill Must Give Up Animals Pending Psych Evaluation, Pay $8,000 in Fines
A Cook County judge also sentenced Dawn Hamill, owner of Dazzle's Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, to one year of probation and 30 days in a community service program for her conviction on eight misdemeanors.
In a move that a defense attorney called unexpectedly harsh, a Cook County judge sentenced the owner of a Tinley Park animal shelter Tuesday, Oct. 2, to serve a year of probation, enroll in a 30-day county work program and pay $8,000 in fines for her conviction on eight misdemeanor counts of violation of owner's duties.
READ: Jury Finds Owner of Animal Rescue Guilty on 8 of 10 Charges
Judge Anna Helen Demacopolous also ordered a psychiatric evaluation for the owner—Dawn Hamill, 43—saying that Hamill satisfies the state's legal definition of an animal hoarder. Until results of the evaluation come back, Hamill must surrender the animals at her Dazzle's Painted Pastures Animal Rescue and Sanctuary and can have no more than five personal pets.
"Miss Hamill may have a good heart and may be a good person," Demacopolous said during sentencing Tuesday, but added it doesn't appear she has "the mental ability to understand that these animals are not being kept in a humane way."
Hamill was convicted Sept. 14 of eight misdemeanor counts of violation of owner's duties in connection to eight puppies reportedly found in cold, filthy conditions during a Feb. 11, 2011, raid on her property. The seven-man, five-woman jury, however, found her not guilty on two counts of animal cruelty, stemming from the discovery of a miniature horse and a Himalayan cat found dead on the property during the same raid.
READ: Sentencing for Painted Pastures Owner Delayed; Case's Prosecutor Accused of Biting Man
Family members and supporters of Hamill gasped and cried during the judge's sentencing and one woman exclaimed, "Oh my God," as Demacopolous said Hamill would be fined $1,000 for each of the eight guilty counts.
Tuesday's sentencing had been delayed a week as Demacopolous reviewed a mitigation packet containing several letters in support for Hamill from various family members, colleagues and friends from defense attorney Purav Bhatt. However, prosecutor Richard Stake Jr. also delivered a packet of letters against Hamill, including one from Kathleen Krainas, who testified against Hamill during her four-day trial.
Bhatt said the sentence was harsh, especially given the fact that Hamill has no criminal background.
"Although sentences are for punishment as well as rehabilitation, I think that based on the circumstances the sentence should lean more toward rehabilitation and prevention as opposed to punishment," Bhatt said.
Though Demacopolous mentioned three letters that showed strong support for the shelter owner by describing how she interacts with the animals, the judge said she didn't understand how Hamill went from a love of animals to deciding to operate an animal rescue in 2006.
"Something happened in 2006 that made her go from reasonable amounts of pets to this," the judge said, after learning that Hamill went from having five dogs to 30 as pets at home.
READ: Follow the Case From Raid to Verdict in Our Special Section
Hamill said the dogs she kept in her home had to be separated from the general population in the barn because they had special needs or illnesses that need medication. But Demacopolous didn't appear to be swayed.
Echoing the words from Stake's short arguments earlier that morning, Demacopolous said Hamill never took responsibility for the condition of her property, instead blaming former employees, Cook County officials and volunteers.
The judge also had strong words about the effectiveness of the Illinois Department of Agriculture officials, who cited Hamill on three separate occasions for improper conditions to keep dogs in the barn, yet "the fine is $200," Demacopolous said.
"There was a very constant theme: Almost everybody that went to Painted Pastures knew that it was not right the way the animals were being treated. …" the judge continued. "This court has extreme concern that the Department of Agriculture either does not have the ability through staffing issues or [through] sheer turning the other way to monitor the conditions that they are authorized to monitor under the statute."
READ: Hamill on Verdict: 'To Me, This is a Great Outcome'
Before the Tuesday's sentencing, both sides delivered brief statements. Stake wrapped up the case without co-counsel Sarah Naughton, who can't litigate cases while she is on administrative leave following an arrest during a reportedly drunken brawl outside a lingerie shop.
Stake continued with a familiar tone to his argument, drawing attention to Hamill as "Dazzle Dawn." He also asked Demacopolous to consider Hamill an animal hoarder and order the mental evaluation that accompanies that designation.
In his brief arguments, defense attorney Bhatt revealed that Hamill has been battling cervical cancer and that the legal fight around the charges "has taken a considerable toll on her." He had requested supervision for sentencing.
Bhatt told Patch after the hearing that Hamill will have to make arrangements for the animals on the property. Pending the results of the psychiatric evaluation, she might be able to continue running Painted Pastures, he said, and her sentence might also change.
Hamill will return to court Nov. 8. for a status hearing on the case.
Get News Alerts and Facebook updates From These Patch Sites:
Bernie
6:58 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
How do you feel about the outcome now Dazzle???
Marylou
9:02 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I feel sick to my stomach. How could the judge be so stupid. Yes Dawn deserves some type of punishment, but this judge went overboard. Dawn is by no means a hoarder. Her first mistake was trusting Kristy Kelly, second was getting sick. This judge has just sentenced innocent animals to a death sentence. A lot of these animals where surrendered to the rescue because their owner no longer wanted them because of health problems, old age or they just didn't want them anymore. There are horses and ponies there that no one will want because of their age and disability's. I hope those of you who condemed her are willing to take in some of the animals she has to find homes for. Since you all are more capable of caring for them. I know I will be there to help as a friend.
...
Dr. anonymous
3:17 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
it is always a better option for an animal to be put to sleep , rather than to suffer what they had to suffer at painted pastures. Would you rather waste away in a german camp or be put out of your misery??? Why would you let anything suffer???
Dina
9:16 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
DAZZLE DAWN,
Yeah Are You still ECSTATIC over the OUT COME?????
Lois O'Connor
10:03 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
This judge is great!! The punishment fits the crime. It is always nice when animals get justice. A fair judge with an appropriate sentence.
Paul LaFranco
10:35 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Well said Marylou I can't add anything to that except maybe when I heard the judge tell Dawn that Dazzle's Painted Pastures is a business, and thats correct and the nature of that business is to take in animals that are unwanted, and there are lots of unwanted animals. So how can Dawn be an animal hoarder when the very nature of her business is to take in as many animals as she can in order to save their lives and hopefully find homes for them. To follow that logic even further then doesn't that make the people that operate every animal shelter an animal hoarder?
Janice
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
No...an animal hoarder takes in more animals than they can care for. Lawful shelters take in only as many animals as they can properly provide care and housing.
Dr. anonymous
3:17 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
How can you be taking care of animals, when they are dead? Ar eyou kidding me?
Veruka Salt
11:53 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Every day when I pray, I also pray for the animals that are abused and mistreated. Most people cannot sit there and watch animals suffer and die slowly in such conditions and do nothing. Nothing can bring those animals back. I do not think the punishment was harsh because day after day, they suffered under her care. it was her responsiblity to ensure that they received good care and nourishment. Something she clearly was not able to provide. In the meantime, i hope she will never, ever, never, ever operate any type of animal business or shelter. I will pray that she recovers from her ailment so that she can have a good life. The kind of life those poor animals who suffered deserved to have as well. Peace.
Marylou
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Veruka, ask God to forgive you for your stupidity when you pray tonight ! Where you witness to any of this abuse or are you just judging her on hear say? WELL hear this, Dawn is by no means a hoarder. If Dawn is then every animal shelter in this world is too. Dawn did not intentionally kill any animals where as places that call them selves animal shelters do on a daily basis. I know this because I have seen it done ! I agree she was guilty of deraliction of owners duties but nothing more.
beth
7:59 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Oh " I know it all lois" since you followed the whole thing than maybe you should bring up the job her husband has that makes decent money or that dawn has a side job as well !!! Maybe that's where the money came from to do personal thing for herself! Your all dumb and ignorant! And none of you were probably ever there but yet you can judge! Shame on all of you!! Oh and u miss animal advocate I hope your the first one in line to help adopt one of those animals if not shut it!!!
Libby
7:52 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Beth, if you are such good friends with Dawn you would be aware that her husband no longer lives there.
MaryAnn
9:31 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Settler's Pond Animal Shelter in Beecher takes in all kinds of animals. Hopefully some of Dawn's animals will find a home there. Its a great place where the animals are treated with kindness, love and respect.
Maybe Dawn can do her community service there and learn a thing or two on how to care for animals the Right way.
Marylou
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Maybe you should not speak about people you don't know. Have you ever met Dawn? Been to her rescue facility? Know anyone who has met Dawn or been to her rescue? Well I have and no one cared more for these unwanted animals than Dawn. Do you take in animals with disabilities, too old to be useful but still has years of quality life left in them. Dawn did and everyday they where fed, watered and enjoyed the easy life. How do we know your not animal hoarders, but no one has done anything about it yet. Get my Point!!
Dr. Dennis Gaeta
9:35 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I never vote for judges on the ballot but this one i will remember and make sure to vote herOUT
Dr. anonymous
3:17 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012
are you kidding - the senetence wasnt harsh enough!!!!
Paul LaFranco
10:03 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lois O'Connor AKA Begood Tome, or who ever you are, All your doing is making a fool out of yourself on a public forum. Normal thinking people that read this stuff realize that you and your friends are extreme far left animal rights wackos. It's ashame that because of the likes of people like you, an intelligent thoughtful conversation can't be had here. And please get it right I won my money from a lawsuit against your three little friends. Not any phony, trumped up lie about me having to do with solicitation, and if I were you I'd be very carful about what you say about people in public, you have crossed the line into defamation about me several times now.
Donna Peterson
10:37 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
All I have to say is 3 Hummers?
Marylou
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
yes 3 hummers. One purchased by her and her husband and 2 donated by a very nice company. Which Part of the donations that came in paid for the insurance every month. Try getting your facts straight before asking a dumb question
michelle
3:13 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I believe that the judge did the right thing. Because you have to be some form of nuts to treat animals in such a horrific way. And blame others. Thank you for doing right by these animals.
Marylou
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I have one question for you... are you judging Dawn on facts or hear say? Did you ever see Dawn abuse, neglect or miss treat any of the animals on her property? If so why didn't you report her to the authorities or did you and they did nothing ? I had my horses on Dawn's property for 4 years and never once saw any kind of abuse or neglect. In fact when one of my horses got sick Dawn took care of her. Called the vet, administered medicine and made sure she had plenty of food, water and a clean stall when I could not be there. In my opinion that's no nut case. Dawn took the blame for not supervising her help better and I give her a lot of credit.
Tull
4:08 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Should a prosecutor named "Dick Stake" really be mocking anybody else's name in court?
Karen
9:49 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
1. There are two sides to a story,
2. Oh, and the hummers work great for transport I hear.
3.Where are the pictures of the horrible conditions?
4.Who here is adopting one of the animals that you feel so badly for? Oh wait, you just want to send them to another facility!!
Janice
9:36 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
Where do I sign up for a Hummer donation? Most shelters use vans for animal transport. Dazzles must have been one nice animal country club to be transporting animals around in Hummers!
Bernie
7:52 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Its nice that all of you are so faithful to Dawn, but she would never return the favor. I know this because I tried to volunteer there. Marylou do you realize that she would hide in her house and pretend she wasnt home when she saw you pull in? She would pass her phone to other people when you called so you wouldn't have to deal with you, its sad you are so loyal to someone who doesn't deserve it. In the short time I was there she chased so many people away for questioning how things were going. The hummers were NOT donated the rescue was supposed to pay for them. If you don't believe me ask Dawn why she is being sued by the cosigner. If they were donated why would there need to be a cosigner and why would they be so far behind on payments???
I'm not saying that she didnt have good intentions at first, but she has to take everything to the extreme.There was never enough dogs, never enough donations and she actually thought she needed another Hummer! The judge was very smart in ordering a psych evaluation. Maybe now she can get the help that she needs. Where were all of you supporters when she was spiraling down hill? If you were around maybe you could've seen how troubled she is before this had to happen.
Libby
7:53 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Hummers would work great for transport if they were actually used for transport. Pictures of the horrible conditions? Those would be right here on the Patch under the WARNING: GRAPHIC link. How odd that once the donations dried up after the raid that the property is now in foreclosure and she is in court being sued for the DONATED Hummers. Look it up yourself on the Cook County court docket.
Veruka Salt
1:59 am on Thursday, October 4, 2012
Marylou - I am actually going to pray that you find your glasses, you appear to have lost them. Nowhere did I say she was a hoarder, I said she was guilty of neglect and that I did not believe the punishment was harsh. Also, if you are going to call people stupid, please make sure you take out your dictionary or use your spellcheck tool so that there's some semblance of truthfulness in your rant.
You have managed to monopolize the board by going around criticizing everyone's opinion. It doesn't matter if one does not know her personally. Pictures of the squalor and deplorable conditions as well as dead animals don't lie. Police don't come in and shut down a place because they have nothing better to do. Clearly, you are her friend (or perhaps Dawn herself) and you are going to defend whatever you feel. However, animals have died under her care. That is a fact. It doesn't take one day for an animal to die, it is a series of many days of neglect. Someone who truly cares about animals would not have been able to observe this day after day without taking action. Nor would they have allowed any animal to live in squalor. They would have found other means to find care for them.
The saddest part is that you are more concerned about Dawn and what people are saying about her than about the animals who suffered. That in itself is quite telling. Some of us need to speak for the animals, since they cannot defend themselves from people like you and Dawn. Peace.
Marylou
7:52 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
I apologize you did not call her a hoarder. Only 3 pictures were shown and of course they where of the only 2 animals that had died unexpectedly during the night and one holding pen that had not been cleaned yet that day. No other pictures were taken of the other animals or holding areas at the rescue because. They were only concerned with showing the bad and not any of the good.. The animal control never even did a necropsy to find out why they died they only assumed they died from neglect and abuse. As do several other people. I am done telling the truth about Dazzles Painted Pastures Rescue because people will think what they want without knowing all the facts. So continue to pray for the animals that the judge just sentenced to a life of cages and euthanasia. This is just my opinion and I as well as you are entitle to it. Be it right or wrong. May God Bless you.
Plumb Bomb
9:36 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
The animals will be safe now !!
Frank
11:34 am on Friday, October 5, 2012
"Ah.....yes! Finally Dawn Hamill has received her rightful punishment!! I was jumping for joy when I read this dazzling article! I adopted a cat through Petsmart and Dawn Hamill just 3 months before the raid. My cat almost died the first month I had her because she was so poorly taken of by Dawn. I spent over $1000 to treat her health problems in the first 2 months I had her. And to think that my cat was stuck in Dawn's nasty "shelter" with feces and filth all over the place just makes me sick to my stomach. And I'm still waiting for Dawn to explain the false rabies vaccination papers that I was given when I adopted my cat.
MaryAnn
7:52 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012
Marylou. I know Dawn's mother and my best friend and her family have know Dawn and her family for years. But that has nothing to do with the way Dawn has neglected her animals. I have always adopted older dogs and cats from the animal welfare and yes some have had disabilities. So maybe YOU shouldn't speak about people you don't know.......Get MY Point????
realistic
11:23 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
To MaryLou, Dr. Dennis, and everyone else who is supportive of Dawn: she always operated a shelter for the money. It was going to be a quick way to make a buck. Take in free animals, rehab them and sell them. I know her quite well . . . she started off with horses, then graduated to all types of homeless animals. She is a materialistic as ever. Get a clue!
Algernon
10:26 am on Thursday, October 18, 2012
Has anyone heard anything about Dawn's other court appearances? Did anyone else hear that Dawn is going to court tomorrow to ask the judge for her animals back? Or that she was sued by the cosigner of the Hummers? Wondering if this is true or just the rumor mill? If it is true I would like to know the outcomes.
horselover
1:40 pm on Thursday, October 18, 2012
It is true she has a court date today and yes she is being sued over the hummers it is public record. No outcomes on either yet I am still waiting also. I think she is asking that they not be adopted out not that she wants them back I don't know this for sure yet either.
Dina
6:37 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Frank I wish other people would step up that adopted animals from her.Please contact The Tinley Park Patch and tell them your story.She will be going to court for the rabie vaccinations.She actually was giving some dogs the shots,which is not legal.Only a Vet is able to give Rabie Shots.I am so happy to hear that little kitty found a wonderful home and a caring person.
Dina
6:38 pm on Friday, October 19, 2012
Dr.Dennis Gaeta you never voted for a Judge and you would try to Vote Judge Demacopolous out.Are you kidding me,that comment coming from a Dr. is quite disturbing.Especially we all know DAZZLE DAWN was not caring for these animals.What did you get in return for saying how wonderful she is??? We need more Judges like Judge Demacopolous that will not allow these poor animals to have to live that way.I would certainly never use you as my vet.
Morgan Jones
3:01 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
Once animals are surrendered or forfeited they cannot be returned. That is the law look it up! This attorney seems just as brilliant as Bhatt. /you cannot go into court and ask for something that has been given up. The judge should not even entertain this. Because lets say she says ok you can have the animals back. The animals are already adopted out or possibly euthanized. That would lead Hamill and her brilliant attorney into believing they can file suit against the judge or the agency that took the animals. This judge is being fair by giving them an opportunity but enough is enough. Someone needs to explain the law to Sherlock.