A Valley Center man has been sentenced to 30 days public work service and 3 years probation and ordered to pay the victims’ medical bills.
The medical bills total more than $130,000, according to the judge who pronounced sentence today, May 3, 2013.
Jose Ledesma, 41, was found guilty of four misdemeanors after a two-day trial in San Diego’s North County courthouse, last month.
Jose Ledesma is not the owner of the dogs that attacked two joggers in November 2011, but he admitted to investigators that he was watching the dogs for their owner that day, according to testimony.
The dogs were described as pit-bull-mixes. Defense attorney Tracey Sang told the judge that “we don’t have doggie DNA” and that there is no “proof” that “Darla and Muffs are the perpetrators.”
A photo lineup of nine different dogs was created by Animal Control officer Joni Palumbo, she said at trial. The officer testified that two of the dog suspects –named as “Darla” and “Muffs” – were identified by victims as part of the pack of six dogs which attacked the men.
Judge Sim von Kalinowski stated today that Ledesma “failed to exercise ordinary care” and noted “we have significant injuries to these two victims” and “this is why we have these laws.”
Jose Ledesma has never been arrested, and he remains at liberty.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/03/44929/
A Valley Center man has been sentenced to 30 days public work service and 3 years probation and ordered to pay the victims’ medical bills.
The medical bills total more than $130,000, according to the judge who pronounced sentence today, May 3, 2013.
Jose Ledesma, 41, was found guilty of four misdemeanors after a two-day trial in San Diego’s North County courthouse, last month.
Jose Ledesma is not the owner of the dogs that attacked two joggers in November 2011, but he admitted to investigators that he was watching the dogs for their owner that day, according to testimony.
The dogs were described as pit-bull-mixes. Defense attorney Tracey Sang told the judge that “we don’t have doggie DNA” and that there is no “proof” that “Darla and Muffs are the perpetrators.”
A photo lineup of nine different dogs was created by Animal Control officer Joni Palumbo, she said at trial. The officer testified that two of the dog suspects –named as “Darla” and “Muffs” – were identified by victims as part of the pack of six dogs which attacked the men.
Judge Sim von Kalinowski stated today that Ledesma “failed to exercise ordinary care” and noted “we have significant injuries to these two victims” and “this is why we have these laws.”
Jose Ledesma has never been arrested, and he remains at liberty.
http://sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2013/may/03/44929/