Pit bull owner faces stiff sentence in mauling death of California woman during morning stroll

LOS ANGELES—A pit bull owner whose dogs fatally mauled a woman walking near his house faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

Alex Donald Jackson goes before a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge Friday after his second-degree murder conviction.

Prosecutors are seeking 24 years to life in prison for last year’s killing of Pamela Devitt in the high desert town of Littlerock and other drug-related convictions.

Devitt was taking a morning stroll when four of Jackson’s dogs leaped over a fence and attacked her.

Prosecutors say the dogs guarded Jackson’s marijuana-growing operation and he knew the animals were dangerous.

A murder conviction in a dog mauling death is rare. Prosecutors say Jackson should have done more to restrain the animals.