The owners of three dogs who mauled a Detroit father of six to death were sentenced on Friday, with the male offender receiving prison time and his wife receiving probation.
Roy Goodman will serve 30 months to 15 years in prison for the death of Harold Phillips, who was mauled by his dogs in Detroit in January of last year.
Trevina Goodman was sentenced to three years probation, which includes community work and no possession of animals.
Roy Goodman admitted that he let the dogs out into the yard on the day Phillips was killed. He also informed authorities that he was aware that the fence latch had been smashed, allowing them to escape.
The attack occurred in January of last year near West Chicago and Longacre, when the dogs escaped through an unprotected fence.
Phillips was put on life support following the mauling. He was returning from a trip to the mall, where he had purchased clothing for an upcoming job interview on January 29.
He died on February 2.
During the sentencing, Harold’s wife, Shauntaye Phillips, informed the judge that she had cried every day since his death.
“I never imagined having to watch him die so tragically – I’m just trying to do the best I can for my kids now, because it’s so hard to grow without a parent,” she told me.
She also read statements from some of the Phillips’ children.
Roxanne Clark, the victim’s godmother, also spoke, recalling the day she drove the children to the hospital to say goodbye to their father.
“I could hear their fear,” she told the courtroom, recalling recounting the injuries to Harold Phillips. “Being a dog owner holds just as much responsibility as being a parent.”
Reference: Detroit dog owners sentenced after fatal mauling of father of 6
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