People v. Knoller

Facts

In 1998, two State Prison inmates (Schneider and Bretches) sought to engage in the business of buying, raising, and breeding Presa Canarios, an extra-large dog breed used for combat, guarding, and fighting. Schneider and Bretches relied on outside contacts (Storey and Coumbs) to carry out the business. In May 1998, Coumbs came to possess four such dogs. Defendant Knoller and her husband/co-defendant, Robert Noel, were attorneys representing a prison guard when they met Schneider. In October 1999, Knoller and Noel filed a lawsuit on behalf of Storey over ownership of the dogs. Coumbs did not contest the lawsuit and turned over the dogs, warning Knoller they had killed her sheep and a cat. On March 26, 2000, a veterinarian was contacted to examine and vaccinate the dogs. Thereafter, the veterinarian wrote a letter warning Knoller and Noel about the difficulty they would have handling the dogs. Two of the dogs, Hera and Bane, were sent to kennels, but were later brought to Knoller and Noel’s apartment due to concerns for their health. Noel licensed and registered the dogs. A number of violent and dangerous incidents occurred with the dogs, ultimately leading up to mauling death of Diane Whipple on January 26, 2001. An autopsy revealed over 77 discrete injuries covering Whipple’s body, including significant injuries to her jugular, carotid artery, and larynx.