SAN ANTONIO – Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, the couple charged in a dog attack that claimed the life of 81-year-old Ramon Najera, have pleaded guilty to the charges.
While the case will not go to trial, a judge will determine their punishment in a phase expected to begin on Sept. 9.
The fatal incident occurred on Feb. 24, 2023, when Najera and his wife were attacked by two of three loose dogs after getting out of their vehicle on Depla Street, near U.S. Highway 90 and Cupples Road.
Neighbors tried to assist, but by the time San Antonio fire crews arrived, they found Najera being dragged by one of the dogs. Firefighters had to fend off the animals with pickaxes and pike poles.
“This is not something normal for us. We usually don’t show up and have to defend patients from animals or ourselves,” said Charles Hood, who was chief of the San Antonio Fire Department fire at the time.
Najera died of his injuries later that day.
His wife was also attacked, along with a fire captain and another individual who were bitten while attempting to help.
The three dogs were detained and euthanized.
Moreno and Schnieder were subsequently arrested and charged with a dangerous dog attack resulting in death and injury to the elderly.
Days after the attack, it was revealed that Animal Care Services (ACS) had previously impounded the dogs for another attack and had received multiple complaints about them over the past two years.
During court proceedings, the defense attempted to shift blame onto ACS, arguing that the dogs had a history of aggression that was not adequately addressed.
“These two killing machines had a history, but they weren’t convinced enough that they were dangerous, and that is the problem here,” defense attorney Jorge Aristotelidis said.
Despite the claims, Judge Velia Meza denied a motion to dismiss the charges in August, setting the case on a course for trial.
However, Moreno and Schnieder unexpectedly pleaded guilty the week jury selection was set to begin.
The plea is not part of a deal, as the state is still seeking the maximum punishment of 20 years in prison. The defense is seeking probation.
The punishment phase will proceed without a jury with Meza presiding. Witnesses expected to testify include Najera’s wife, Juanita, first responders, eyewitnesses, and ACS employees.
Testimony is expected to last all week. Sentencing is excepted on Sept. 20.
KSAT 12 will livestream the punishment phase. You can watch it on KSAT.com, KSAT+, and KSAT’s YouTube channel.
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