A Texas couple was sentenced to greater than a decade in jail every Friday after their pit bulls received free and killed an 81-year-old man final 12 months, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office stated.
Christian Moreno was sentenced to 18 years in jail and Abilene Schnieder was sentenced to fifteen years in jail for the Feb. 24, 2023, mauling close to their San Antonio house.
Ramon Najera, 81, was killed and his spouse, Juanita Najera, was injured within the assault.
The canine received free and attacked the Najeras as they had been operating errands close by, officers stated.
“What occurred to Mr. Najera was an unspeakable horror,” 226th District Court Judge Velia J. Meza stated earlier than imposing the sentence.
Firefighters who arrived on the scene noticed a bloodied man being dragged round a nook by canine, and the firefighters had to make use of pickaxes to fend off the animals, town’s fireplace chief stated on the time.
The three canine concerned within the assault or off their property on the time had been euthanized, Animal Care Services stated on the time of the assault.
The district lawyer’s workplace stated Moreno and Schnieder had been criminally negligent by not offering sufficient fencing and permitting the animals to roam free.
Juanita Najera informed the court docket Friday that she has post-traumatic stress dysfunction, courtroom video broadcast by NBC affiliate WOAI of San Antonio reveals.
“I might by no means have imagined I’d be calling myself a widow at the moment in my life, and on this tragic approach,” she stated. “PTSD is now one thing I should take care of the remainder of my life. Extreme loneliness and vacancy will even be part of my life.”
“You each took a giant a part of my life away,” she stated, placing her hand to her mouth and sobbing. “You took my higher half away.”
There had been earlier complaints about free and aggressive canine from that house, officers stated on the time of the assault.
Moreno and Schnieder pleaded responsible Aug. 30 to assault by canine leading to demise.
“This unlucky tragedy was preventable. The defendants’ failure to behave responsibly and safe their pit bulls resulted in accidents and the lack of a life,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales stated in a statement.
Attorneys listed as representing Moreno and Schnieder didn’t instantly reply to messages searching for remark after enterprise hours Friday night.
If paroled, Moreno and Schnieder are prohibited from proudly owning or possessing canine.
“Mr. Moreno, Ms. Schnieder, that is about accountable canine possession,” the choose stated. “It entails not solely taking good care of your canine, however guaranteeing the security of the folks in our neighborhoods, in our communities.”