Dog owner fined in mauling episode

CORTLAND – The owner of a dog that mauled a 6-year-old girl at Mosquito Lake State Park has been fined and placed on probation.

Judge Thomas Campbell of Trumbull County Central District Court placed Lance Peck, 35, of Champion, on probation for a year Wednesday, fined him $225 and costs, ordered his dog destroyed — and ruled that he can’t own a dog except for a poodle.

Peck had pleaded no contest and was found guilty by Judge Campbell of failure to confine a dog resulting in injuries, and having a dog on the beach at a state park.

Charges of not having insurance on a vicious dog and failure to have a dog leashed in a state park were dismissed.

The charges stem from an attack on Alexis Foraker of Austintown, who was at the park on May 28, Memorial Day, with her family.

Alexis’ mother, Sheri Foraker, who was with her daughter, said Alexis was in the water playing with a brother when the pit bull-like dog attacked.

She said Peck released the dog from its leash to swim when her daughter was bitten in the face. Peck was at the park with his four daughters at the time.