TUCUMCARI, N.M. (KRQE) – A man received a prison sentence on Monday for his role in a dog attack that killed a man in Tucumcari in 2023.
Kristopher Morris and his mother, Mary Montoya, pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous canine.
The duo allowed their dogs to run loose, and at least one of those dogs mauled 64-year-old Stanley Hartt to death, according to law enforcement.
As part of their plea deals, Morris and Montoya had their involuntary manslaughter charges dropped. Morris was sentenced by Judge Abigail Aragon to six years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to child abuse charges for hitting his child back in July. Morris was given a suspended sentence in that case.
“You also have a child of your own for which you will enter into a plea shortly of child abuse. So, therefore, at this time, I am going to sentence you to the New Mexico Department of Corrections for the entire six years,” said Aragon in the hearing.
Last month, Montoya was sentenced to six months in jail, but because of ongoing medical issues, court records say she does not have to turn herself in to serve that sentence until Jan. 6.
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