Dad charged in fatal pit bull attack
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

BATH - The father of the 6-year-old boy who died July 29 after being mauled by the family's pit bull has been charged inconnection with the incident.

William D. Abbott, 33, of East William Street Extension, was charged Wednesday, August 8, with endangering the welfare of a child, according to Steuben County authorities.

District Attorney John Tunney said the charges stem from what he called "an eminently preventable accident."

Abbott's son, Saben Jones- Abbott, 6, was reportedly feeding the family's 6 to 8- month-old pit bull late in the morning when the puppy allegedly attacked him.

The father reportedly found the boy lying unresponsive on the ground near the pit bull, approximately 15 minutes after the attack occurred.

Jones-Abbott was later pronounced dead at Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital and taken to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office in Rochester for an autopsy. The pit bull was euthanized at the owner's request and also sent to the medical examiner's office in Rochester.

The boy was buried Saturday, August 4.

The death led to a 10-day investigation by county sheriff investigators, county Coroner Steven Copp and county Animal Cruelty Officer Scott Mazzo.

Tunney said Wednesday he looked at the full range of charges possible in the case before filing the Class A misdemeanor charge.

"It was the only charge supported by the evidence available," Tunney said. "It was not a compromise. It was the one and only charge afforded by the evidence."

Tunney said the investigation showed the father had been warned by county Department of Social Services workers that his son needed a greater degree of supervision and that the dog was a serious risk to the boy's safety.

"Without the history of this particular (warning) it is safe to say there would have been no charges filed at all," Tunney said.

Tunney said the charges are intended to deter Abbott and others from acting in the same manner in the future.

"I don't doubt he mourns the loss of his son," Tunney said. "But what happens in the legal system is we have an obligation to look at the evidence and act accordingly."

Abbott was arraigned before Village of Bath Justice Chauncey Watches Wednesday and released. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by a fine, probation or up to one year in prison.

Abbott is scheduled to appear with his attorney in Bath Town Court August 20.