DOG OWNERS FACE TRIAL IN MAULING PROSECUTORS FILE FELONY CHARGES.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Reversing a decision made last month, prosecutors filed felony charges against a Quartz Hill couple whose dog, a pit bull-retriever mix, was shot to death by sheriff's deputies as it mauled a neighbor. While prosecutors declined last month to file criminal charges in the attack, they said further investigation revealed that, within the past year, the dog bit two other people who informed its owners. ``Basically it's a failure to control the animal,'' Deputy District Attorney Steve Heller Steve Heller may refer to:
tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. .'' Shane Copeland, 25, and Raquel Pena, 22, are each charged with one felony count involving serious injury. Both have been notified by letter that a case has been filed against them and that the arraignment A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted is set for next week, Heller said. If convicted, they each face up to three years in prison. Kimberly Beatrice, 47, was attacked about 7 p.m. March 21 in front of her home in the 4700 block of West Avenue L-14, described as a normally quiet street lined with homes on large lots. One of the dog's owners called 911 after hearing Beatrice screaming for help and tried unsuccessfully to get the dog off her by hitting and prying pry·ing adj. Insistently or impertinently curious or inquisitive: ignored the prying journalists' questions. pry with a broom broom, common name for plants of two closely related and similar Old World genera, Cytisus and Genista, of the family Leguminosae (pulse family). , according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Quartz Hill Town Council President Ed Frommer. Sheriff's deputies said the dog was attacking Beatrice on both arms and her neck when they shot it. They said it was still biting an arm when it was hit by the first bullets, fired at close range. Prosecutors said the dog owners and Beatrice lived on the same property but in different homes, with no fences separating the two. Heller said Copeland told investigators that he had had the dog for two years. At Providence Holy Cross Medical Center Providence Holy Cross Medical Center is a hospital in Mission Hills, California, USA. The hospital has 254 beds, and is part of Providence Health & Services. History in Mission Hills, the surgeon who operated on Beatrice's badly mauled right arm said he had never seen such injuries in 20 years of practice, according to investigators. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com |
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