Owner of dogs in fatal mauling released on bail

OHIO -- Andrew Nason, one of the owners of two mixed mastiff dogs that mauled Dayton resident Klonda Richey to death in February, was released from jail on Monday evening after posting bond.

Murderers: Andrew Nason, 29, and Julie Custer, 26

 

Nason, 29, and Julie Custer, 26, who was the registered owner of the two dogs, were each charged with two misdemeanors of failure to control dogs on Sept. 12, after the county’s grand jury declined to indict them on any felonies related to Richey’s death.

During his arraignment on the misdemeanor charges, Andrew Sexton, assistant prosecutor for the city of Dayton asked for Nason’s bond to be increased to $50,000. Dayton Municipal Court Judge Carl Henderson set it at $25,000. Nason was required to post 10 percent. On Monday, he was freed after $2,554 was posted for his bail. Custer has been free on bond since turning herself in on Sept. 12.

If convicted, they each face six months in jail and a $1,000 fine for each count.

Animal Control, the police, and judges failed to protect her

 

Richey, 57, was attacked by the dogs in the early morning hours of Feb. 7 outside of her home at 31 E. Bruce Ave. Her body laid outside in sub-freezing temperatures until a passerby reported seeing a naked body in the snow around 8:15 am. When police responded, the dogs charged them and they were shot and killed.

A Montgomery County Children Services employee, Richey lived with at least 20 cats and repeatedly had sought protection from the dogs and her neighbors from the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center, the police and courts in the two years preceding her death, an investigation by this newspaper found.

 

 

 

Also Monday during a pre-trial hearing, prosecutors exchanged discovery with Nason and Custer’s attorney, Jay Adams. Henderson set the case for a status conference at 1:30 pm on Oct. 22.

Richey’s case was the first in a series of dog maulings resulting in death and critical injuries that have spurred Ohio lawmakers to consider strengthening the state’s law about dangerous dogs. There is a bill being considered in the Ohio House of Representatives and Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Dayton, has said he plans to introduce complementary legislation in the Senate.

(Dayton Daily News-Oct 7, 2014)

Earlier:

• Woman dies after apparent dog attack in SW Ohio
• Coroner IDs woman fatally mauled by 2 dogs
• Victim of dog mauling identified, repeatedly called for help with dogs
• Charges to be decided in deadly dog mauling