Animal Rights Activist Jodie Wiederkehr Set for Trial in Ogle County

An Ogle County judge has scheduled a trial for animal rights activist Jodie Wiederkehr on February 17, 2024. She faces charges of falsely reporting a shooting incident at a rodeo near Rochelle, Illinois. Wiederkehr, a campaign director with the organization Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), has been accused of making two false reports and one count of harassment by telephone.

During a preliminary hearing on August 20, Wiederkehr pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations stem from an incident on May 25, when prosecutors assert she made multiple 911 calls, claiming to have witnessed a shooting at 16989 Ritchie Road. According to Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock, she knowingly provided false information to the dispatcher. The location is identified as the site of the rodeo, known as Rancho La Esperanza, which has faced scrutiny from SHARK and local residents advocating for its closure.

Wiederkehr’s activism focuses on issues surrounding animal cruelty at rodeos, particularly highlighting events such as steer tailing. SHARK has supplied officials with videos purportedly showing animal mistreatment, including severe injuries like severed tails and broken legs, as reported by local media. The rodeo continues to operate under a permanent special-use permit granted by the county, with its latest event held on October 18.

In a recent status hearing, Wiederkehr appeared via Zoom alongside her attorney, Brad Thomson. A second attorney, Chris Carraway, was not present. Thomson indicated discussions are ongoing regarding a potential plea agreement, although he stated, “it appears that we will be going to trial.” Assistant State’s Attorney Matthew Leiston disagreed with the request for a plea deal, emphasizing that issues raised by the defense’s discovery motion need resolution before trial.

On October 1, Wiederkehr’s legal team filed a motion seeking extensive documentation related to the rodeo, covering the period from May 1 to June 17. Leiston noted he had objections to this motion, which he intended to present to Thomson during the hearing, although he was not present to do so.

During the hearing, Judge Anthony Peska expressed reservations about setting a trial date without all parties present but ultimately agreed to schedule a trial, contingent upon their attendance. Wiederkehr’s next appearance is set for February 4, 2024, where her attorneys will present arguments regarding the discovery motion. The final pretrial hearing is scheduled for February 13, just days before the trial begins.