Indiana Woman Skips Hearing in Pit Bull Attack, Sentenced to Six Years

Kimberly Fielden Convicted, Sentenced to 6 Years
Crown Point, IN - Kimberly Fielden, 28, of Lake Station, accused of unleashing her pit bull to attack a man skipped her sentencing hearing, but was still handed a six-year prison term. Lake Superior Court Judge Salvador Vasquez said Fielden had been taken to Porter County Jail on another case and was mistakenly released two weeks ago even though Lake County had issued a hold for her.

Fielden and co-defendant Gerald M. Kinley, 28, of Calumet Township pleaded guilty last month to battery, a class C felony. Kinley admitted that a man on Oct. 3, 2006 purchased Xanax from him and Fielden. An argument ensued. Kinley struck the man on the head with a baseball bat, then told Fielden to release the dog. She did, and the man was bitten on both arms, his left shoulder and legs. He needed 10 staples to close a cut on his head and the bite wounds became infected.

Defense attorney Carl Jones presented a letter from Kinley's employer who said he was a good worker who arrives on time. Jones argued for a two-year sentence for both Kinley and Fielden. Deputy prosecutor Christy Short said Fielden has a prior felony conviction, two misdemeanor convictions and two pending cases. Kinley was on probation when he committed the battery and was arrested again while out on bond, Short said.