RICHMOND, Texas (AP) -Former NFL linebacker Steve Foley was charged with a felony after his pit bulls bit a woman and killed her puppy.
He surrendered at the Fort Bend County Jail on Wednesday and was released on a $10,000 bond, sheriff’s spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said.
A grand jury indicted Foley, accusing him of failing to secure the dogs. The two adult pit bulls attacked neighbor Twana Schulz on March 26, causing serious bodily injury when they bit her on the arms and face, according to court documents.
Foley was not home when the attack occurred, said his lawyer, Paul Nugent. A conviction on the third-degree felony charge could result in two to 10 years in prison, Nuggent said.
The 32-year-old Foley played with the Cincinnati Bengals (1998-02), Houston Texans (2003) and San Diego Chargers (2004-06).
His career ended after he was shot by an off-duty police officer in San Diego in 2006. The Chargers released him in March 2007 with two years left on his contract. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving and was sentenced to five years’ probation.
Schulz, 36, was walking to the corner to pick her daughter up from the school bus when she and the puppy were attacked. Foley’s dogs were seized by animal control officers and put to death.
Nugent said Foley kept two adult pit bulls and some puppies as pets. He said the pit bulls were “show dogs and pets, not fighting dogs” and had no previous history of attacks.
“It’s a tragic accident,” Nugent said. “Mr. Foley feels very sorry that it happened. He had no prior problems with the dogs.”
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