Ohio: Douglas Jackson, 55, pleads no contest to pit bull mauling

OHIO -- A man whose two pit bulls attacked an off-duty Lima police officer, causing serious injuries, will face up to six months in jail after pleading no contest to five charges.

Douglas Jackson, 55, of 999 N. Elizabeth St., Lima, is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22.

He pleaded no contest to two counts of pit bull regulations insurance-injury, one count of harboring more than one pit bull - injury and two counts of walking a pit bull without a leash or muzzle, all first-degree misdemeanors carrying up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. He also pleaded no contest to two counts of confinement of dogs, each a minor misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of a $100 fine.

Patrolman Mark Link was walking to his car Oct. 19 in the 900 block of North Elizabeth Street Jackson's two pit bulls attacked him. Link suffered bites to his head as he tried to fight off the dogs for several minutes. The dogs then charged other people in the neighborhood, police reported.

Officers arrived and shot the two dogs to stop them. The dogs survived being shot and were taken to the dog warden’s office, where they were euthanized. Police later learned one of the dogs had cornered an elderly neighbor the day before in her yard, police said.

"Unprovoked and irresponsible attack from the defendant's two pit bull dogs. My wife and children have suffered, and the city of Lima community has suffered," read a Crime Victim Services advocate in the victim impact statement in the courtroom.

The attack from the two pit bulls took off nearly two-thirds of his ear, leading to 5 surgeries and a handful of complications.

"It's been hell," said Link.

"If people out there have those types of dogs they need to follow by the rules, you know," said Link, "Right now I'm at a quarter of a million dollars in medical that my insurance is paying for that he didn't have insurance for, where's that going to come from?"

Link has been off work for 3 months, relying on his family for daily tasks. He says he feels like a prisoner in his own home.

"I'd like to see him do jail time, I feel that I'm doing jail time, I can't do anything in my house, I can't work outside, I can't work inside," said Link, "I feel like I'm in jail in my own house, you know, I'm looking over my shoulder every time I go outside, why not him pay for the same thing."

Patience Jackson, 27, of 999 N. Elizabeth St., also was convicted of two counts of not having a dog tag and one count of confinement of dogs, all three charges being minor misdemeanors. She was fined $25 on each charge.

(Lima Ohio - Jan 21, 2016)