Category Archives: Criminal Charges & Trials

A collection of blog posts documenting the criminal trials of the owners of dangerous dog breeds after their dog seriously injures or kills a person.

Criminal Trial: Michigan Couple Pleads to Felony Manslaughter Charge After Cane Corsos Brutally Kill Jogger

The owners of two cane corsos that killed a jogger are sentenced to prison time. Couple Sentenced UPDATE 07/14/15: Today a Lapeer County judge sentenced the owners of two cane corsos that mauled a jogger to death last year. Sebastiano Quagliata, 46, and his wife, Valbona Lucaj, 45, were sentenced to 57 months to 15 years in prison, which is just shy of 5-years behind bars. The couple's cane corsos had attacked two victims before fatally attacking Craig Systma, 46, on July 23, 20… [Read full blog post]

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Visiting Child Killed by Family Pit Bulls in Miami-Dade County

From top left: Javon Dade Jr., the crime scene, suspect #1 and the "breed labeling game." Father Pleads Guilty UPDATE 03/02/15: Javon Dade Sr. pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on the day his trial was set to begin in connection to the mauling death of his son. Last summer, Javon Dade Jr. was savagely killed by his father’s illegal pit bull and pit bull-mixes at the home Javon Sr. shared with his girlfriend, Alessandra Carrasco, as the two slept off a narcotics hangover… [Read full blog post]

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Toddler Dies After Attack by Family Pit Bull While Under Grandmother's Care

Heroic neighbor stopped the attack by stabbing the pit bull with a steak knife. The Indictment UPDATE 01/29/15: We received a copy of the indictment against Derek Solem. As we had hoped, it included more information. The dog was not listed as a Staffordshire terrier or pit bull-mix as several news groups stated in their coverage. The fatally attacking dog, named Martel, was a "pit bull terrier." In addition to Martel previously biting another child in the home and the clear (a… [Read full blog post]

2014 Dog Bite Fatality: Two Cane Corsos Brutally Attack and Kill Jogger in Metamora Township, Michigan

Craig Sytsma, 46-years old, was mauled to death by two cane corsos in Metamora. Puppies Spared; Right to Repetition archived UPDATE 08/02/14: Three adult cane corsos have been euthanized, but prosecutors backed down from their civil complaint filed on July 25 to seize the eight offspring puppies1 ("Complainant believes ... they’re [sic] blood line cannot be reasonably believed to be safe for society"). Instead, prosecutors made a deal with the defendants' attorneys, w… [Read full blog post]