Nov 16, 2005 8:49 am US/Central
Father Of Pit Bull Victim Shocked By New Charges
Owner Of Dogs Charged With Growing Marijuana
By: Rob Phillips/Northwest Herald
(Northwest Herald) WOODSTOCK The father of a 10-year-old Cary girl who was attacked by pit bulls in their neighborhood said he was shocked to learn that the dogs' owner allegedly was growing marijuana.
"I wondered why he had three pit bulls," said Edward Lamarre, whose daughter, Jourdan, was mauled while selling magazine subscriptions and candy for a Girl Scout fundraiser. "And now he gets arrested for this."
Scott Sword, 41, of 6607 Hawthorne Drive, Cary, was charged with possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of production of fewer than five marijuana plants, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Police allegedly found marijuana and plants at Sword's home shortly after the Nov. 5 attacks.
In addition, Sword and Cathie Doyle, 37, also of 6607 Hawthorne Drive, were cited Tuesday with letting the dogs run at large, said Tom Carroll, civil division chief for the McHenry County state's attorney's office.
Carroll said that because Sword and Doyle's home was in unincorporated McHenry County, the couple could have to pay a maximum $50 fine for each of the three dogs. Prosecutors previously said the couple faced up to a $200 fine for each dog, which would be the case if the dogs were running loose in a municipality, Carroll said.
Edward Lamarre said he worried that the drug charges could affect whether his daughter's injuries would be covered by homeowners insurance.
"It's just one thing right after another," he said. "It doesn't seem to end."
Sword, who remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in the dog attack, and Doyle are expected to appear in court Dec. 12.
Nygren said he was waiting until Sword was out of the hospital before arresting him on the felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
"If we don't wait, then we have to put an officer beside his bed, and the county ends up paying for his hospital bills," Nygren said. "That is not something that I think the McHenry County taxpayers should have to do."
Police filed the marijuana complaint and a warrant was issued for Sword's arrest Monday.
Sword could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge. Police said they found just more than 30 grams of marijuana in the home's garage and kitchen. The marijuana plants were found growing in the home's backyard, police said.
Police spent last week testing the marijuana, Nygren said.
Jourdan Lamarre and Nick Foley, also 10, were attacked after they approached Sword's home to sell items for the fundraiser. Foley has been upgraded to serious condition at a Park Ridge hospital; Lamarre was released from the hospital last week. Four adults, including Sword, also were injured while trying to stop the dogs, which later were killed by police.
Sheriff's officials said that McHenry County Animal Control had ordered additional testing on the dogs, including toxicology tests to determine whether the dogs had eaten marijuana.
"That's a question that will be asked and something we needed to look for," McHenry County Undersheriff Gene Lowery said. "I think it would be pretty far-fetched, but I don't know."
Dr. Peggy Chamberlain of the Animal Medical Center of Crystal Lake said that if the dogs had eaten the marijuana, it would not likely have caused them to attack. Chamberlain said that dogs she had seen in the past who had eaten marijuana had been subdued.
"They were more dopey and depressed," Chamberlain said. "[Attacking] is highly unlikely and not a typical response from that kind of drug."
Rob Phillips
(CBS 2 and the Northwest Herald are news partners covering stories in northwest suburbs. If you know of stories happening in this region, contact us.
(© 2005 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Northwest Herald contributed to this report.)
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_320095105.html
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I can't believe the more serious charge is possession of 30 grams and growing marijuana. Up to 3 years for those charges but only $150 in fines for allowing his pit bulls to almost kill several people selling girl scout cookies. Logical solution to such a vexing legal question of fairness and having the punishment fit the crime? Simple. Drug test the pit bulls! If the dogs were high then the justice gap makes sense eh? Yeah I don't get it either.
Father Of Pit Bull Victim Shocked By New Charges
Owner Of Dogs Charged With Growing Marijuana
By: Rob Phillips/Northwest Herald
(Northwest Herald) WOODSTOCK The father of a 10-year-old Cary girl who was attacked by pit bulls in their neighborhood said he was shocked to learn that the dogs' owner allegedly was growing marijuana.
"I wondered why he had three pit bulls," said Edward Lamarre, whose daughter, Jourdan, was mauled while selling magazine subscriptions and candy for a Girl Scout fundraiser. "And now he gets arrested for this."
Scott Sword, 41, of 6607 Hawthorne Drive, Cary, was charged with possession of more than 30 grams of marijuana, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of production of fewer than five marijuana plants, McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren said. Police allegedly found marijuana and plants at Sword's home shortly after the Nov. 5 attacks.
In addition, Sword and Cathie Doyle, 37, also of 6607 Hawthorne Drive, were cited Tuesday with letting the dogs run at large, said Tom Carroll, civil division chief for the McHenry County state's attorney's office.
Carroll said that because Sword and Doyle's home was in unincorporated McHenry County, the couple could have to pay a maximum $50 fine for each of the three dogs. Prosecutors previously said the couple faced up to a $200 fine for each dog, which would be the case if the dogs were running loose in a municipality, Carroll said.
Edward Lamarre said he worried that the drug charges could affect whether his daughter's injuries would be covered by homeowners insurance.
"It's just one thing right after another," he said. "It doesn't seem to end."
Sword, who remains hospitalized with injuries suffered in the dog attack, and Doyle are expected to appear in court Dec. 12.
Nygren said he was waiting until Sword was out of the hospital before arresting him on the felony and misdemeanor drug charges.
"If we don't wait, then we have to put an officer beside his bed, and the county ends up paying for his hospital bills," Nygren said. "That is not something that I think the McHenry County taxpayers should have to do."
Police filed the marijuana complaint and a warrant was issued for Sword's arrest Monday.
Sword could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison if convicted on the most serious charge. Police said they found just more than 30 grams of marijuana in the home's garage and kitchen. The marijuana plants were found growing in the home's backyard, police said.
Police spent last week testing the marijuana, Nygren said.
Jourdan Lamarre and Nick Foley, also 10, were attacked after they approached Sword's home to sell items for the fundraiser. Foley has been upgraded to serious condition at a Park Ridge hospital; Lamarre was released from the hospital last week. Four adults, including Sword, also were injured while trying to stop the dogs, which later were killed by police.
Sheriff's officials said that McHenry County Animal Control had ordered additional testing on the dogs, including toxicology tests to determine whether the dogs had eaten marijuana.
"That's a question that will be asked and something we needed to look for," McHenry County Undersheriff Gene Lowery said. "I think it would be pretty far-fetched, but I don't know."
Dr. Peggy Chamberlain of the Animal Medical Center of Crystal Lake said that if the dogs had eaten the marijuana, it would not likely have caused them to attack. Chamberlain said that dogs she had seen in the past who had eaten marijuana had been subdued.
"They were more dopey and depressed," Chamberlain said. "[Attacking] is highly unlikely and not a typical response from that kind of drug."
Rob Phillips
(CBS 2 and the Northwest Herald are news partners covering stories in northwest suburbs. If you know of stories happening in this region, contact us.
(© 2005 CBS Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Northwest Herald contributed to this report.)
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_320095105.html
/******************************************/
I can't believe the more serious charge is possession of 30 grams and growing marijuana. Up to 3 years for those charges but only $150 in fines for allowing his pit bulls to almost kill several people selling girl scout cookies. Logical solution to such a vexing legal question of fairness and having the punishment fit the crime? Simple. Drug test the pit bulls! If the dogs were high then the justice gap makes sense eh? Yeah I don't get it either.
