LANCASTER – A Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Tuesday (Aug. 20) ruled there was enough evidence for Alex Jackson to stand trial for the murder of Pamela Devitt.
Jackson, 29, is the alleged owner of the pack of dogs that killed 63-year-old Devitt while she was out for a morning walk in Littlerock on May 9.
The judge’s decision came after two days of graphic testimony by 12 witnesses, including a woman who witnessed the fatal mauling, another woman whose horse was attacked by Jackson’s dogs, and a mail carrier who escaped an attack while on the job.
In the end, Jackson was ordered to trial on six counts: murder; animal causing human death, owner negligence; cultivating marijuana; possession of marijuana for sale; possession for sale of a controlled substance; and assault with a deadly weapon.
Jackson returns to court for an arraignment on Sept 9 in Dept. 19 of Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.
Previous related stories:
Dog owner charged with murder in Littlerock mauling death
Victim ID’d in fatal mauling, fate of captured dogs uncertain
Eight dogs seized in deadly mauling of 63-year-old woman
BREAKING NEWS: Woman dead after vicious dog mauling
In another preliminary hearing at the Antelope Valley courthouse on Tuesday (Aug. 20), a judge determined there was enough evidence for Scott Shipley to stand trial for the murder of Acton Water Company owner Christopher Demyen.
Demyen, 39, was shot to death on May 15 after a fight with 56-year-old Shipley in front of a home in the 1500 block of Eagle Butte Road. Authorities said the dispute was over a “vehicle parking issue.”
Shipley’s attorney argued that Shipley shot Demyen in self-defense, but his motion to dismiss the charges was unsuccessful.
Shipley was ordered to stand trial for murder and remanded back to custody on $2 million bail.
Shipley will return to court again on Sept. 21 for an arraignment, which will be held in room A21 at Antelope Valley courthouse.
Previous related stories:
Memorial established for slain Acton business owner
Business owner shot dead after dispute, suspect in custody
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ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE says
WHAT THE [removed] YOU ALL ARE SO STUPID HIS [removed] DOGS DID IT NOT HIM OK WHY SHOULD HE BE CHARGED WITH 2ND DEGREE MURDUR [removed] INSANE HYE DID NOT MURDUER ANY ONE HIS ANIMALS DID HE SHOULD GET SOMEKIND OF PUNISHMENT BUT NOT MURDER CHARGES COME ON NOW??? HE DID NOT LET THEM LOOSE , HE DID NOT SAY “”DOGS GO SICK AND KILL THE LADY WALKING ! YOU CANT CHARGE HIM WITH SOMETHING HE DIDNT DO IF THATS THE CASR ALL THESE TRIGGER HAPPY CROOKED COPS IN AV SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR MURDER FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THEY KILLED ESPECIALLY THE INNOCENT ONES JUST LIKE THAT KID THEY KILLED OVER BY ROUND TABLE WHERE THE [removed] IS CHRIS JUSTICE AND ALL THE OTHERS [removed] THAT THE COPS NEED TO BE CHARGEWD TO THEY ARE MURDERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WHERE THE [removed] IS OUR JUSTICE AT WELL WE AINT GOT NON WE THE PEOPLE ARE NOBODYS!!!!!!!!!!!!1
bleh says
Ummm … if you can’t keep your animals in check it’s obvious YOU WILL be charged or cited depending on the extent of the incident. Are you suggesting to have the dogs testify too? Ugh … And if you haven’t followed the story, his dogs had been aggressive with others several times. He even threw a rock at a horse who tried to kick one of his dogs when it tried to bite it. ASIDE from that, he was found with marijuana cultivation inside his home. Quit blaming the cops for everything, this is why our generation is spiraling down, people like to give everyone excuses and pats in the back instead of holding crooks responsible. smh
Nancy P. says
You had me until you started talking about crooked cops. Agree, the guy should be punished, but, not with a murder charge. Another case against pitbulls and pitbull owners.
BGF says
So you start off by stating that only your imaginary sky fairy can judge people, then you judge people. I guess you’re going to hell. oh wait, it doesn’t exist..
tori says
BECAUSE HE WAS THE DRUGGED OUT OWNER THAT HAD NO CONTROL OF THE MONSTER DOGS IN THE FIRST PLACE..HE DESERVES WHAT HE GETS AND THE DOGS DESERVE TO BE PUT DOWN FOR BEING SUCH TERRORS…
William says
Boy, God [removed] a lot of your comment after He judged your writing.
Thank you, God. You’re on the job.
justsaying says
Well If only God can judge….
Then God willing, Jackson will meet his judgment sooner than later so he can be judged.
DrinkYourKoolAid says
To be convicted of 2nd degree murder, they have to be found to have malice aforethought (either expressed or implied). Express malice would be that the defendednt intended to kill someone. Implied malice (which is what applies here) is (a) The killing resulted from an intentional act (not confining dangerous animals); (b) The natural consequences of the act are dangerous to human life (dangerous animals are likely to attack); and (c) The act was deliberately performed with knowledge of the danger to, and with conscious disregard for, human life.
So he didn’t have to deliberately intend to kill anyone. This is the same law by which drunk drivers can be charged if they are in an accident and someone is killed.
That is how the law is going to be presented to the jury. Now, if they find that the dogs did belong to the defendent, there is very little liklihood of acquittal.
sammy p says
Ok – Alex Jackson- don’t care about his case at all – he deserves what he gets – let a pack of pit bulls run free in your neighborhood? Then you are responsible for what they do.
As for Scott Shipley, his case is more complicated. Mental illness, alcohol and drugs could be involved and that changes things.
A normal person would not shoot someone over a parking dispute and throw their whole life in the toilet in a heartbeat. I think that when he pulled that trigger he was so “out of it” that he could not see the consequences of his actions. The question is, WHY was he out of it.
It wont matter – The victim is not some homeless person or ghetto trash, he’s an upstanding citizen who is white, attractive, smart, owns a business and has a pretty wife and kids.. the american dream. The guy who’s “hand in life” was the one many of us reading this wish we were dealt. And so we can’t let his murder go unpunished.
Nope.
Appalled says
Wow what an arrogant attitude to have. I always thought it was innocent until proven guilty. It is people like you who change that!!
letmeonjury says
@ Appalled…I agree with Sammy p on Jackson 100%. With Jackson I see no innocent…
with Shipley…white, black, homeless or not if proven mental, then life in mental hospital no getting out. Other wise same as Jackson, I see no innocent. Waiting to serve on jury anytime!!
Brian says
Ignorance is bliss isn’t it, this is a sign of the times. People read the news that that the media WANTS to give them not necessarily the entire story and it is easy for the media to leave one little detail out of a story as NBC did in the Zimmerman case. You then have all of the people in our society that are to LAZY to do a little foot work or research to find out the whole story, but they go ahead and lay judgment and feel like people need to listen. If you do not know the facts about this case then you need to keep your comments and opinions to YOURSELF !!!!