The dog knocked the Erin Ingram down and bit her repeatedly on her arms and legs during the attack outside her Lithonia home in March 2010. Her injuries were so severe that surgeons had to remove part of her left arm as a result of the attack.
Erin said in court this week that she still has nightmares about dogs attacking her other arm.
"My family has been having hard times since the accident," she said in court Thursday. "I have nightmares about everything over and over, and I cannot sleep."
The dog's owner, Twyann Vaughn, was found guilty on two counts of reckless conduct, two counts of a failure to obtain rabies innoculation and two counts of violating the Vicious Dog Act.
Vaughn was sentenced to 16 months in jail followed by 36 months of probation and 240 hours of community service. She will also have to pay restitution to the Ingram family in an amount to be determined. The court said Vaughn will have to become an advocate for the need for animal control, and she is not permitted to have any contact with Erin or her family.
Vaughn will have to turn herself into authorities by Monday morning at 8:00.
(11Alive - Jan 6, 2012)
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