Antelope Valley Man In Court In Connection With Case Of Deadly Dog Mauling

LANCASTER (CBSLA.com) — An Antelope Valley man Friday made his first court appearance in connection with a second-degree murder charge stemming from a deadly pit bull attack.

Alex Jackson of Littlerock is accused in the May 9th pit bull mauling of 63-year-old Pamela Marie Devitt. Devitt was walking near her Littlerock home on 116th Street East and Avenue S when she was attacked by a pack of pit bulls.

Authorities say Devitt suffered more than 150 puncture wounds. Police say they found eight dogs at Jackson's home, six of which were pit bulls.

"I'm here to support him because this was out of his hand. He had no control over this. Those weren't even his dogs and I know that for a fact," Azquinetta Washington, a friend of Jackson's, said. "Those dogs were stray. I live in that area. And people dump dogs there all the time. It's a big problem."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Thursday said four of Jackson's dogs tested positive for DNA belonging to Devitt.

Prosecutors say officers have been called to Jackson's home three times prior which factored into the second-degree murder charge. Prosecutors allege that Jackson's dogs attacked a man on horseback in one of those alleged instances.

"It's an implied malice theory of second-degree murder and that's really all the information that I can give you at this time," said Prosecutor Samantha MacDonald.

Jackson is also facing other charges in connection with an alleged marijuana grow. He is due back court on June 14 to enter a plea. His bail has been set at more than $1 million.