Missouri Man Sentenced to 100 Days in Jail for Releasing Pit Bulls That Mauled 3 Men

[Blue_Frog]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2803339




-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. Jan 17, 2007 (AP)— A man was sentenced Wednesday to 100 days in jail for freeing a trio of pit bulls that mauled three men, reportedly to "see what kind of trouble he could cause."

The length of time Bryan Smith will spend in jail coincides with the amount of time the most seriously injured of the victims spent in the hospital, said Van Buckley, a spokeswoman for Jackson County prosecutor's office.

Smith, 34, of Independence, was also sentenced to two years of probation and 100 hours of community service.

Judge Jeffrey Bushur imposed the sentence on three counts of third-degree assault after Smith conceded there was sufficient evidence for a conviction.

Neighbor Earl D. Howard Jr. told investigators that Smith had told him he was planning to release the dogs "to see what kind of trouble he could cause." Howard said he warned Smith against it, but he later saw the dogs jump out an open window and Smith laughing. Smith had been working on the house.

The three dogs attacked one man while he was out walking and two other men as they mowed grass.

The owner of the dogs, Paul Piper, was sentenced in October to two years of probation for violating the city's animal-control ordinance. Other charges are pending, Independence police spokesman Tom Gentry said.


Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

[jackie]

What a sicko!

I hope the men who were mauled make a speedy recovery.

[kittycats_delight]

It's idiots like that that help fuel the media fire against pitbulls. In my opinion 100 days is not enough. I hope the men are all healing well and go after the jerk for monetary damages.

Is there any word on what did or will happen to the pitbulls? I hope they can do something other than euthenize them. But sadly it seems this is always the first choice in most cases. I hope not though.

[Jadapit]

"Sigh" Yet, another idiot that has NO business owing a pit bull. People like him, honestly make me sick. They have no love for the breed at all. I too hope the men that were mauled make a speedy recovery.

[elizabethann]

100 days?! That's it?

[borzoimom]

I do not come to dog house much, and just saw this. It has taken me over 20 minutes to calm down enough to write- 100 DAYS??? My friend has been in jail longer than that by the time she got done- and it wasnt her fault- and she did nothing to start the attack. Granted the victum had a heart attack afterwards but still..
Do not worry about monetary damages- the sky is the limit here on these attacks as far as receiving compensation- and it can not be disguarded in a bankruptsy either!
I am not sure what they mean by animal control violations- it could even be that the pits were banned there- in that case- there will be another trail to penalities to that one..
We had another attack in our area again today.. I know that most of the state of Virginia has a pit ban- but I am not sure of that part of Henrico County or not.. And this was a 6 year old with his own dogs.. http://www.nbc4.com/news/10841903/detail.html