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Case #6519 Rating: 3.5 out of 5
3 dogs attack boy - owner charged
Aurora, CO (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2005
County: Arapahoe
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Renee Denise Muniz
» Danielle Denise Carson
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Prosecutors have filed charges against the mother of Gregg Jones, the 10-year-old boy who was attacked by 3 pit bulls in the backyard of his Aurora home on November 2, 2005.
The Arapahoe County District Attorney charged Renee Denise Muniz, 37, with child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, cruelty to animals, child abuse with no injury and unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog. The child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury charge is a felony. The other 3 charges are misdemeanors.
The DA also asked the Aurora Police Department to issue a summons to 20-year-old Danielle Denise Carson. The summons is for cruelty to animals and unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog. Both of those charges are misdemeanors.
The DA requested a personal recognizance bond of $50,000 for Muniz. She is still taking care of her son, Jones. The dangerous dogs involved in the case were removed from the home.
The 3 pit bulls attacked Jones when he was returning home from school and climbed into his backyard after finding the front door locked. Doctors did facial reconstruction surgery on Jones and also had to amputate one of his arms.
Case UpdatesRenee Muniz sobbed in court, saying she blames herself "every day" for the savage pit bull attack that severely injured her 10-year-old son. Arapahoe County District Judge Angela Arkin, who told Muniz that she could have prevented what happened, sentenced her to four years of probation.
Gregg Jones Jr. found the front door of his Aurora home locked Nov. 2, 2005, when he returned home from school. Trying to enter through the backyard, he hopped the fence and was set upon by three of the five pit bulls Muniz was keeping at the rented house.
A neighbor told police one of the pit bulls had Gregg by the throat and was throwing him around "like a rag doll" before several neighbors scared the dogs into releasing him. Gregg spent nearly four weeks in the hospital, where he underwent reconstructive surgery on his face. His left arm was amputated.
Muniz, 37, the mother of five, had pleaded guilty to a charge of child abuse and a count of animal cruelty. As part of a plea agreement, two misdemeanor counts were dropped. The court ordered Muniz not to have any pets in her home except for her son's turtle. She must complete her education as a physician's assistant, take parenting classes and complete 90 hours of community service in a hospital trauma center dealing with injuries to children.
This was the best situation for a child who loves his mother and wants to be with her, Arapahoe County Deputy District Attorney Ben Leutwyler said. Family and friends testified that Muniz is a loving mother. "This kid is all she knows," relative Belinda Reid said.
Muniz, who is taking therapy classes, said she has nightmares where she can't save her son. "It hurts so bad," Muniz said.
Sometimes, Gregg squeezes her hard and tells her, "It's OK, mom," she said. | Source: Rocky Mountain News- June 3, 2006
Update posted on Jun 7, 2006 - 8:33PM |
References« CO State Animal Cruelty Map
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