Hamill’s new trial to begin in September
BY STEVE METSCH smetsch@southtownstar.com July 10, 2012 10:16PM
Dawn Hamill. | File photo
Updated: August 12, 2012 6:16AM
A southwest suburban woman charged with numerous misdemeanors for allegedly mistreating animals at her shelter near Tinley Park has a new trial date, her attorney said.
Dawn Hamill, who owns Dazzle’s Painted Pastures Rescue and Sanctuary, tentatively is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 11, Attorney Purav Bhatt said. A status hearing is set for Aug. 9, he said.
A previous trial ended in a mistrial in April after the state’s key witness, former Cook County Sheriff’s Animal Crimes Unit investigator Larry Draus, was indicted on federal extortion charges of trafficking cigarettes in an unrelated case.
“We are ready for trial, absolutely. Ms. Hamill is looking forward to her trial date,” Bhatt said.
Dazzle’s Painted Pastures, at 5555 W. 175th St. in Bremen Township, is open for business, he said.
“She got her Department of Agriculture license renewed. If they had any problems with her, they would not authorize her to run the animal sanctuary,” he said.
The sanctuary was raided on Feb. 11, 2011, by the Cook County Sheriff’s Police Animal Crimes Unit, which removed more than 100 animals, mostly dogs and cats, along with a miniature horse that was found dead in its barn stall and a dead Himalayan cat in an adjacent tack room.
