Man Charged In Connection With Mauling Of California Boy By Pit Bull Dogs

Jet, July 9, 2001

A 10-year-old Richmond, CA, boy was recently mauled by three pit bulls as he rode a bicycle given to him for making good grades.

Shawn Jones remained in critical condition at an Oakland-area hospital at JET press time following an attack that cost him both his ears and part of his face. Doctors told reporters that if he does survive the attack, which also caused damage to his arms and head, he faces years of plastic surgery.

His aunt, Roselyn May, said, "He's a fighter. If he wasn't, there's no way he'd still be here." She added that Shawn's mother was too distraught to appear. Doctors said on NBC's "Today" show that Shawn remains unconscious and sedated because of the pain.

Benjamin Moore, one of the owners of the dogs, told officials that he "panicked" when he saw the dogs smeared in blood near Jones and thought the boy had been killed. He claimed that he then took the dogs to a remote location and dropped them off. Moore, 27, was charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly concealing the dogs after the attack. Moore pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said their investigation didn't support previously considered charges of felony mayhem and failing to exercise care with dogs trained to fight, attack or kill.

Moore's girlfriend, Jacinda Lynn Knight, 33, was arrested in connection with the incident, but was later released without charges.

Police officials were quoted in the L.A. Times as saying they do not believe Moore released the dogs and that someone is hiding them. At JET press time, because the dogs have not been caught and tested, doctors said Shawn also is having to undergo painful rabies shots.