Crime & Safety
Jury Finds Chesterfield Man Guilty of Felony Animal Abuse, Burglary
A St. Charles jury found Charles Zidek, 37, guilty of felony burglary and animal abuse on July 31.
This article was written by Patch Editor Kalen Ponche
A St. Charles jury found Charles Zidek, 37, guilty of felony burglary and animal abuse on July 31, according to a press release from the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's office.
The verdict came after a two-day trial at which prosecutors laid out a case describing how Zidek, of Chesterfield, broke into the St. Charles house of his ex-girlfriend, Daina Walkonis, through a basement window, and tortured her dog on Oct. 9 when no one was home.
Prosecutors described the Italian Greyhound's injuries and said blood came out of the dogs eyes, nose and mouth and he had a broken leg, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The dog, named Vinny, was euthanized at the recommendation of a veterinarian, according to the press release.
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