A Detroit couple implicated in an appalling incident that led to the death of a local father of six received their sentences this past Friday. Roy Eric Goodman has been given a term of 30 months to 15 years in prison, while his wife, Trevina Quiche Goodman, received three years of probation, as per CBS News. The fatal event in question took place in January of the previous year when the Goodmans' three dogs escaped from their property and attacked Harold Phillips, the father, who was returning home from a bus stop.
According to ClickOnDetroit, the incident occurred on West Chicago and Longacre when the three canines fled through an insecure gate in the Goodmans' yard. After the assault, Phillips was hospitalized but perished from his injuries on February 2. Post the attack, the dogs were euthanized.
In a statement obtained by CBS News, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, ""This is heartbreaking. I just do not understand why we continue to see unleashed and unsecured dangerous dogs running loose and killing our citizenry. With pet ownership comes responsibility, pure and simple. I do not see what is hard to understand about that."
During the sentencing, Phillips' wife, Shauntaye Phillips, expressed the family's sorrow and read a letter from her children. "I never imagined having to watch him die so tragically - I'm just trying to do the best I can for my kids now, because it's so hard to grow without a parent," she said, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
If Trevina Goodman violates her probation, including a ban on owning animals, she could face 18 months to 15 years in prison. Roy Goodman's acknowledgment of the broken gate latch contributed to a sentence that highlights the importance of responsibility among pet owners.
