Dog attack convictions nixed

TEXARKANA — An appeals court in Texas overturned a man’s two criminal convictions related to dog attacks. He allowed his pack of 10 pit bull mixes to roam free and repeatedly attacked members of his community for more than a year, but the trial court erred in issuing jury instructions that omitted essential elements of the “attack by dog” offense. His conviction of injury to a child by omission must be reversed as well, as he did not have a statutory duty to the child, which is a necessary element of the offense.