A Texas couple was sentenced to more than a decade in prison every Friday after their pit bulls escaped and killed an 81-year-old man last year, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said.
Christian Moreno was sentenced to 18 years in prison and Abilene Schnieder was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the Feb. 24, 2023, assault near their San Antonio home.
Ramon Najera, 81, was killed and his wife, Juanita Najera, was injured in the attack.
The dogs escaped and attacked the Najeras while they were shopping nearby, authorities said.
“What happened to Mr. Najera is an indescribable horror,” 226th District Judge Velia J. Meza said before imposing the sentence.
Firefighters arriving at the scene saw a bloodied man being dragged to a corner by dogs, and firefighters had to use pickaxes to fend off the animals, the city’s fire chief said at the time.
All three dogs involved in the attack or who were off their property at the time of the attack were euthanized, Animal Care Services said at the time of the attack.
The prosecutor’s office said Moreno and Schnieder were criminally negligent in failing to provide adequate fencing and allowing the animals to roam free.
Juanita Najera testified in court Friday that she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, as shown in court video broadcast by NBC affiliate WOAI in San Antonio.
“I never imagined that I would consider myself a widow at this point in my life, and in this tragic way,” she said. “Post-traumatic stress disorder is now something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life. Extreme loneliness and emptiness will also be a part of my life.”
“You both took a big part of my life away from me,” she said, putting her hand over her mouth and sobbing. “You took my other half away from me.”
There had been previous complaints about stray and aggressive dogs at the house, authorities said at the time of the attack.
Moreno and Schnieder pleaded guilty on Aug. 30 to attack by a dog resulting in death.
“This unfortunate tragedy was preventable. The defendants’ failure to act responsibly and secure their pit bulls resulted in injuries and the loss of life,” Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in a statement.
Attorneys representing Moreno and Schnieder did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment after hours Friday evening.
If released on parole, Moreno and Schnieder will not be allowed to own or keep dogs.
“Mr. Moreno, Ms. Schnieder, this is about the responsibility of dog owners,” the judge said. “This is about not only taking care of your dog, but also keeping people safe in our neighborhoods, in our communities.”
