After her dog allegedly attacked three different people in 19 months, a North Hollywood woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to felony charges.
All three of the alleged attacks – including one on a 7-year-old boy – were during times the woman was present or involved people the woman knew, according to Ricardo Santiago of the District Attorney’s Office. He said that after the second attack, authorities told the woman the dog, an Akita named Brody, should wear a muzzle.
Cheryl Hargrove Hooks, 56, is charged with three counts of negligence of an owner of a mischievous animal causing serious bodily injury, according to the District Attorney’s Office. If convicted as charged, she could face up to four years and four months in jail,
The charges stem from alleged attacks between April 2013 and November 2014, according to Santiago.
A friend of Hooks’ was allegedly bitten on the face by the dog while house sitting for the accused woman, the District Attorney’s Office reported. The 7-year-old boy was seriously injured and required surgery after allegedly being attacked by the dog in the boy’s family’s driveway. The boy is not related to Hooks, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The most recent alleged attack involved a person who was bitten on the face and seriously injured during a dinner party at Hooks’ home, according to Deputy District Attorney Ron Carey.
According to the website dogtime.com, an Akita “is a large and powerful dog with a noble and intimidating presence,” originally used “for guarding royalty and nobility in feudal Japan.” Another site said Akita dogs are usually about 100 to 150 pounds and stand about 2.2 feet at the withers. Santiago said he is unaware of what has happened to Hooks’ dog since the charges were filed.
Hooks is due back in a Van Nuys courtroom May 27 when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require her to stand trial.
— City News Service