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ANIMAL WATCH - Six months after a savage attack by three Pit Bulls, took the life of Ramon Nejara, Jr., 81, Air Force veteran and severely injured his wife (pictured above) the dog owners, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder were indicted, and this week were sentenced by State District Judge Velia Meza.
Ramon Nejara, Jr.
Nejara fought valiantly to protect his wife by fighting the dogs even after he suffered injuries which proved fatal--an act which will not be forgotten and will live on in the memories of thousands of readers of the various reports recording the final act of this American hero.
But, in order to have a tangible impact, it must also generate a demand for enforcement of laws regarding all aggressive dogs and long-overdue financial and pubic support of the local departments charged with protecting animals and people.
THE ATTACK
In February 2023, when the attack occurred, Ramon Najera and his wife, Juanita (aka Janie) Najera, had driven to the home of a friend in the 2800 block of Depla Street in San Antonio, TX, next door to the residence of Abilene Schnieder and Christian Alexander Moreno, who owned three Pit Bulls (later officially identified as American Staffordshire Terriers, which they were apparently breeding.)
The Najeras had planned to merely drop off some uniforms for hemming with their friend, who is a seamstress, in anticipation of Ramon’s new part-time job as a security officer.
However, when Janie Najera got out of the car and went to the front door, she was told by a relative of the seamstress to just “leave the uniforms” because the friend was not home.
As Janie Najera was walking back to the car, she testified that she heard “very vicious barking from the fenced yard next door and one of the Pit Bulls in the yard climbed the fence “like a ladder,” jumped over the top, charged at her and began biting her.”
Her husband quickly got out of the car and rushed over to help his wife, as a second Pit Bull escaped Schnieder’s and Moreno’s yard and joined in the attack.
A video provided by a witness who saw the incident and tried to stop the mauling reportedly showed one of the Pit Bulls biting Ramon Najera relentlessly, and also “yanking a dialysis shunt out of his arm.”
He was shown screaming for help as he lost consciousness and fell face-down in the yard, according to reports.
Arriving paramedics immediately applied a tourniquet to try to stop the bleeding and intubated him to help him breathe, but the efforts were too late to address the damage done by the dogs. Despite their efforts, his pulse stopped before the ambulance reached University Hospital and the war hero died in his heroic effort to save his beloved companion and wife.
See: Veteran's Death By Pit Bull May Result in Investigation by San Antonio Animal Control
PIT BULL OWNERS ARRESTED
Christian Alexander Moreno and Abilene Schnieder shown after they were arrested in regard to the death of Air Force Veteran Ramon Najero and injury to Janie Nafera. (Photo credit: Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News)
Janie Najera was also hospitalized to assure proper care and recovery from the wounds inflicted by the dogs, but the loss of her husband will never heal.
Moreno and Schnieder surrendered the two pit bulls positively identified involved in the attack. A third dog belonging to them was still loose on the street. Reportedly all were euthanized.
San Antonio Animal Control Services also removed four Pit Bull puppies, according to reports. The dogs were described as American Staffordshire Terriers.
SAME DOGS HAD ATTACKED BEFORE
Defense attorney Jorge Aristotelidis, right, talks with Christian Alexander Moreno and his wife, Abilene Schnieder, in court. The couple face up to 20 years in prison each for the death of Ramon Najera Jr., 81. Their pit bulls attacked and killed the Air Force veteran last year.
CLOSING ARGUMENTS-SENTENCING
On Friday, September 20, 2024, Judge Meza issued her sentences for defendants Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, both 32, ordering each sentenced to over 10-years in prison in connection to the death of 81-year old Ramon Najera.
Judge Meza sentenced Moreno to 18 years of confinement and Schnieder to 15 years of confinement in connection to their Pit Bulls killing Najera, and referred to the attack as "an unspeakable horror that is going to resonate in our community for a very long time."
The dogs had bitten three people leading up to the February 24, 2023 fatal mauling. And after each attack, the owners paid fees to Animal Control Services to have their dogs returned to them, according to reports.
After the judge made the ruling, Moreno and Schnieder were handcuffed. The victim’s wife, then gave a touching victim impact statement, during which she agreed with the judge's ruling, calling it "adequate punishment", but also believed "the city should be there sitting next to you guys because they are guilty too."
Judge Meza summarized, "What happened to Mr. Najera was an unspeakable horror that is going to resonate in our community for a very long time. Unlike any other cases I have presided over, this one is different. It is different because we are not dealing with an intentional act. We are not dealing with a drive-by shooting or any other type of murder. It was a case of criminally negligent behavior.”
The judge also spoke about the lack of enforcement by San Antonio Animal Control, “On the one hand, we have the city of San Antonio Animal Care Services swearing under oath. . that none of the previous bite victims came forward to declare the dogs 'dangerous dogs.'
“After hearing from the neighbors on Depla and Darby Street, I find the testimony I heard from the city of San Antonio very difficult to believe.”
The judge continued, “The city of San Antonio is not on trial here. They will have their day in court, and their lawsuit to contend with. . .To echo what most, if not all the witnesses testified to, this was preventable. If the first line of defense fails because dog owners are not responsible, the second line of defense should not have failed.” (Read entire statement here.)
The judge sentenced Moreno, to 18 years confinement and Schnieder to 15 years confinement in in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division, adding a $5,000 fine for each, with no restitution ordered—because “the victim has not requested restitution,” she stated.
She also prohibited both from owning “any” dogs if you make parole on this case, and ordered each to “have no contact with Depla Street and Darby Street.” She then advised that both have the right to appeal.
Read court transcript on closing arguments and sentencing at DOGSBITE.ORG, which also contains the link to video of the police interrogation.
According to Dogsbite.org Abilene Schnieder denied responsibility for the death of Ramon Najera Jr. insisting she and her husband, Christian Alexander Moreno, had not broken the law, and calling this tragic event “a freak accident.”
(Phyllis M. Daugherty is a former Los Angeles City employee, an animal activist and a contributor to CityWatch.)
