UIC gymnast charged with felony for pouring boiling water on dog, prosecutors say
BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN Criminal Courts Reporter/rhussain@suntimes.com January 27, 2012 2:18PM
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Updated: February 29, 2012 8:05AM
Charges have been upgraded against a college athlete who is accused of throwing a pot of boiling water on his dog in a fit of anger after the Mountain Cur mix urinated on the floor.
Kyle Voissem, a criminal justice major at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was originally charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty for the Oct. 18 incident.
But due to the severity of the burns, charges have been upgraded to a felony, assistant Cook County state’s attorney Lorraine Scaduto said Friday.
Voissem, of the 1700 block of South Desplaines Street, was boiling water to make macaroni and cheese for dinner when he saw the dog urinate on the floor, Scaduto said.
Angry over the mess, Voissem allegedly poured the scalding water over Byron’s head and torso.
The dog, who suffered second- and third-degree burns, was turned over by its owner to the Anti-Cruelty Society, which provided veterinary care and successfully adopted the dog to a new home.
Voissem, 20, who is originally from Wisconsin, is going to UIC on a scholarship for gymnastics, his attorney William Fahey said.
But according to UIC spokesman Bill Burton, Voissem has not participated in any gymnastics since his arrest and of Thursday, has been taken off the school’s team.
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