Three people are facing criminal charges for taking matters into their own hands regarding the care of a trio of dogs at a Kane area residence.

Martin Niklas III, 32, of 1440 Wetmore Road, John Jay Thomas Bundy of 785 Wetmore Road and Tricia Bowen, 33, of 481 Gunsmoke Road, Kane, were all charged regarding a July 6 incident.

According to the criminal complaints, at 5:25 p.m. July 6, state police were dispatched to 784 Wetmore Road for a theft of dogs. The trooper arrived at 5:55 p.m. Niklas allegedly “trespassed onto the residence of 784 Wetmore Road” to make contact with the victim about alleged malnourished dogs on her property in need of care. Niklas went into the home, and the resident threw her phone at him; he picked it up and smashed it, the complaint states. He went outside and took the dogs, a white boxer and two German shepherds, back to his residence to give them food and water. Upon further investigation, police found the dogs in Nicklas’ garage with water, the complaint stated.

Niklas was charged with criminal trespass – enter structure, a third-degree felony; criminal mischief – damage property, a summary offense; and three counts of theft by unlawful taking, first-degree misdemeanors.

At 9:30 p.m. that same day, police were called to unknown persons breaking into the garage at 1440 Wetmore Road. The female resident said she saw a full-sized pickup truck pull into her driveway, saw two people get out and enter the garage, and then called 911. The two people were identified as Bundy and Bowen, police said.

Contact was made with the two at 785 Wetmore Road, who said they knowingly entered the garage, which was unlocked, to retrieve the dogs that had been taken from 784 Wetmore Road.

Police did not say where the dogs ended up.

Niklas was arraigned that night before on-call District Judge Bill Todd. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 11. He is represented by attorney Robbie Taylor from Brookville.

Bundy was arraigned at the same time, and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. Charged with one count of criminal trespass – enter structure, a third-degree felony, he is scheduled for Central Court on Thursday.

Bowen, charged with one count of criminal trespass – enter structure, was arraigned before Todd later that evening. She was released on $10,000 unsecured bail and is scheduled for Central Court on Thursday.