Seven Weeks Later – Still No Special Prosecutor Assigned to Case

It’s been 7 weeks since local attorney Rhonda Blades allegedly shot and killed a dog that bit a neighbor’s 11-year-old boy.  As of Monday afternoon, a special prosecutor still has yet to be assigned to the case.  At least one witness says the dog bite was less traumatizing to the child than watching the events that unfolded afterwards.  According to the original report from Tuesday, September 26, Blades was interacting with children while holding the dog on a leash.  After biting the youngster, the report indicated the dog ran after the child, but no additional injuries were sustained.  Blades, the public defender of record for Wabash County, would subsequently retrieve a firearm and shoot the dog, not killing it.  States Attorney for White County Denton Aud forwarded the report on for a special prosecutor to be assigned though no charges have been filed still.  Blades could face potential charges of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm as well as Cruelty to Animals.  The child has since physically recovered according to witnesses.

States Attorney Denton Aud says it is a unique situation.  The ILSAAP (Illinois Office of the States Attorney Appellate Prosecutor) can’t handle it and no judge in the circuit can sign the motion for special prosecutor.  Aud says ILSAAP can’t take it because they have current cases in front of Judge Thomas Dinn (Blades husband) in other counties.  In most cases, Aud says it doesn’t take much time.

WROY/WRUL News will continue to follow the status.

Original story:

An incident last week involving the shooting of a dog by it’s owner, an attorney, has left some in the community unsettled.  WROY/WRUL requested the report from Carmi PD after learning of the alleged incident.  The official report says it was about 7:40pm Tuesday, September 26^th when officers were called to an area near Jennifer Avenue and Lance Lane in the Edgewood subdivision in reference to a dog biting a child.  Dispatch would further advise that someone had then shot the dog multiple times, yet it remained alive.  Before officers arrived, dispatch again would advise that the dog was shot once more and was now dead.  Carmi Animal Control also responded to the scene.  Police say an 11-year-old boy was bitten on the arm while the dog’s owner, 52-year-old Rhonda Blades interacted with children holding the dog on a leash.  The dog then allegedly ran after the child, but no additional injuries were sustained.  Blades, the public defender of record for Wabash County, subsequently retrieved a firearm and shot the dog according to the report.  Chief Jason Carter says the child received minor injuries and Blades told Carter the dog had never shown any aggression prior to the incident.  There were multiple witnesses including Blades husband, a local judge.  The report was sent on to States Attorney Denton Aud for review.  WROY/WRUL News has been told Aud will forward the report on to a special prosecutor.  No charges have been filed as of yet.  Blades could face potential charges of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm and Cruelty to Animals