A Texas couple, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, was sentenced to 18 and 15 years in prison, respectively, after their pit bulls got loose and killed an 81-year-old man, Ramon Najera, near their San Antonio home in February 2023. The attack resulted in Najera’s death and his wife, Juanita Najera, being injured. The couple pleaded guilty to the charges of attack by dog resulting in death, as prosecutors argued they were criminally negligent for not providing adequate fencing and allowing the dogs to roam free. The incident led to the euthanization of the three dogs involved in the attack. Juanita Najera spoke in court about the impact of the attack, stating that she now suffers from PTSD and extreme loneliness as a widow. The judge emphasized responsible dog ownership and highlighted the preventable nature of the tragedy, as there had been complaints about loose and aggressive dogs from the couple’s home in the past. Following their sentencing, Moreno and Schnieder are prohibited from owning or possessing dogs, and if paroled, they will have to adhere to this condition. The case was described as an unspeakable horror and a tragic loss of life that could have been prevented if the defendants had taken proper precautions and secured their pit bulls.
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