Slain dog’s owner: Fine not enough

Friday, June 18, 2004 | 9:39 a.m.

Rosemary Sketchley-Deets has been waiting for justice for six months.

And despite a fine levied Wednesday against a woman who claimed to own the Rottweiler who killed Sketchley-Deets' Italian greyhound in December, Sketchley-Deets feels like she is still waiting.

Prosecutors dropped charges against dentist Mark Escoto, who Sketchley-Deets and several other witnesses claim is the Rottweiler's owner, and accepted a no-contest plea from Escoto's mother, Lydia, for one misdemeanor count of allowing her animal to run at large.

Municipal Judge Toy Gregory ordered Lydia Escoto to pay Sketchley-Deets $1,000 and to pay a $632 fine.

"That doesn't even cover the cost of a new dog," Sketchley-Deets said, adding that Italian greyhounds run about $1,200.

"They really got off easy" Sketchley-Deets said. "That's appalling."

Sketchley-Deets remains angry at Mark Escoto, whom she believes is responsible, and at the Las Vegas loose dog ordinance, which she thinks should be a felony if a dog is killed.

The Rottweiler on Dec. 4 attacked and killed Sasha, one of two Italian greyhounds owned by Sketchley-Deets, in her Summerlin neighborhood. Her son, then 11, was walking the animals when the larger dog attacked. Five witnesses filed affidavits in the incident, including the daughter of District Judge Jackie Glass, one of Sketchley-Deets' neighbors.

The incident provoked Ryan Schiestel, 25, to hire Melvin Gilchrist, 26, to either beat up or kidnap the Rottweiler "to keep this dog from harming anyone or anything again," according to court records.

Gilchrist was shot by a police officer while in the Escotos' back yard after he threw a knife and a baseball bat at the officer. Scheistel and Gilchrist pleaded guilty in connection with the incident and were sentenced to probation.

In December, the city declared the Rottweiler dangerous, according to Lt. Karen Coyne of the city's Field Services Division, but the dog was not ordered to be euthanized. It was unclear whether Escoto or his mother had the dog euthanized, she said.

Lydia Escoto and two attorneys with her declined to comment. Mark Escoto did not appear in court and could not be reached for comment.

Although Sketchley-Deets believed that justice had been delayed, Coyne said it is normal for an animal control case to take six months or more.

"Having a case that is successfully prosecuted at all is an accomplishment," she said. "To have it done within six months I'd say is a fairly timely manner."

Coyne said animal control cases are difficult to prosecute because most witnesses lose interest.

"We've experienced a great deal of frustration with these cases because usually all we have to go on are the witnesses," she said. "And while witnesses right after the incident are furious and want to take action at first, time just has an amazing effect."

Sketchley-Deets also is working to strengthen Nevada's animal control laws, which give dogs a so-called free bite before the animals are declared vicious.

Sun reporter

Heather Rawlyk contributed to this story.