A McHenry County man has been cleared of charges that he intentionally harmed his dog and caused her death.
Timarion White’s family burst into tears after Judge James Cowlin announced Thursday after a brief trial that White was not guilty of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges lodged after his 5-pound miniature pinscher, Mia, died on New Year’s Day 2016.
Assistant State’s Attorney Victor Escarcida asserted that White, a 28-year-old Lake in the Hills man, became annoyed and frustrated with his tiny dog while trying to coax her out from under the kitchen table. Escarcida said White purposely hit the dog in the head with a metal broom, fracturing her skull.
“The defendant simply lost his temper and let his frustrations get the best of him,” Escarcida said. “Mia paid the price for not obeying his order. … This was an intentional act.”
But Cowlin indicated he viewed the events differently, saying the dog apparently “took refuge” under the table and hit her head on a metal chair or table leg. The judge said the state didn’t show White, who lived in Huntley at the time, used a metal broom.
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“He did not consciously hurt the dog,” Cowlin said.
White testified that he was trying to get Mia to go out but the dog ran from the door and hid under the table, as she usually did when it was cold and snowy out.
White said that, as he typically did, he used a wooden broom with plastic bristles to try to gently “coax” the dog out. He then heard a “metal clink” and said he felt “horrible” when Mia stumble out from under the table and collapse.
“I loved her,” White said of his “spunky” but often skittish dog. “She slept with me, kind of followed me everywhere I went … always gave me kisses.”
When his wife, Brianna White, saw the dog lying in a pool of blood, she wrapped Mia in a blanket and rushed out to find a veterinarian. She said she was frantic and crying when she saw an Illinois State Police officer and stopped to ask if he knew if the nearest veterinarian’s office was open since it was a holiday.
The officer, Aldo Schumann, also testified that Brianna White was “frantic, crying, screaming help me” as she held the bleeding dog. He then saw her husband running after her in bare feet, which the defendant said he did because he was worried for his wife and he saw her hit a snow bank.
Huntley police Officer Ryan Gregorio then arrived and accompanied the couple to see the veterinarian, who determined the dog was dead.
Gregorio testified that White told him that he was “annoyed” with his dog, knew what he did was “inappropriate,” had used a metal broom and saw his dog “airborne.” From the stand, White denied those statements and insisted he did not use metal broom.
“At no point was there any intention of hurting her,” White said.
Outside the courtroom, Brianna and Timarion White, who are expecting twins, said they are thankful the ordeal is over. Timarion White said he has spent nearly $12,000 fighting his case and has not been able to find work with the charges pending. He said being acquitted is a “dream come true.”
Amanda Marrazzo is a freelance reporter.