A Naperville man, Nathan Gonzalez, received a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to aggravated DUI and aggravated cruelty, leading to the death of the family pet. DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin confirmed the concurrent sentences during Gonzalez's recent court appearance before Judge Joseph Bugos, as reported by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
On the fateful night of December 17, 2023, Gonzalez was detained for speeding by Naperville Police, where officers noted signs of intoxication and a blood-alcohol concentration of .131, well above the legal limit. Further complicating his case, he was driving with a suspended license from Indiana. Then, in a separate incident on September 29, 2024, Gonzalez's stepdaughters reported him for killing the family dog, named Rocco, and threatening them. After police intervention, Rocco was found deceased at a construction site with blunt force trauma to his head.
Authorities had taken Gonzalez into custody, where he remained until his trial. It is also mandated that Gonzalez shall never own, have custody of, or control any animal in the future. Berlin, in a statement regarding the case, pointed out the gravity of the offenses, emphasizing the violent nature of the crime against the family pet and the danger posed by Gonzalez's reckless driving.
"Following an argument with his partner, Nathan Gonzalez violently killed the family dog, Rocco," Berlin said. "Our pets are family members and deserve our love and comfort, not a violent, painful death as Rocco was forced to endure." Berlin further spoke of Gonzalez's lack of regard for safety on the road and the law, as per the official statement from the State’s Attorney.
