A man indicted today on a charge of felonious assault in two attacks by his pit bull also faces an animal-cruelty charge because authorities say he drugged the dog with cocaine.
A Franklin County grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Donald L. Moore Jr., 34, who pleaded guilty earlier this week in Environmental Court in an unrelated attack involving the same dog.
Moore's girlfriend, Stephanie Shahan, 23, also was indicted today. Each is charged with one count of felonious assault, two counts of failure to confine a vicious dog, one count of assault and one count of insurance fraud.
The couple, whose most recent address was on S. Powell Avenue, lied to their insurance company to obtain an insurance policy on the dog, according to the indictment.
Moore also faces one count of witness intimidation, alleging that he threatened a witness in the case. The animal-cruelty count is based on an allegation that Moore gave the pit bull, who was named "Caine," cocaine.
The dog was euthanized after it attacked 12-year-old Ryan Fuller on S. Powell Avenue on May 9. The boy was rescued by family members and neighbors, including one who stabbed the dog to get him off the boy.
Ryan, who suffered severe bite wounds to his neck, underwent surgery at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Tests on the dog after it was put down showed the drug in its system, authorities said.
Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien told WTVN ((610 AM) Radio today that it's not uncommon for dogs used in dog-fighting to be given cocaine to "rev them up" before a fight.
According to the indictment, the dog also attacked Lori Velasco-Tapia on Oct. 5. The indictment mentions both victims.
The case in which Moore pleaded guilty to failure to confine a vicious dog was filed after Moore's pit bull, while roaming free, attacked a Rottweiler mix that was being walked by its owner on Wrexham Avenue in February. The owner, Chuck Zilich, said he used his dog's leash to choke the pit bull and tie it up until animal-control officers arrived.
Judge Harland Hale sentenced Moore to six months in jail Monday after Moore pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to confine a vicious dog.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/22/pit-bull-owner-indicted-in-attack.html?sid=101
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