Pit-bull case bound over to grand jury
Staff report
warren
A Warren man accused of ordering his pit-bull dog to attack another Warren man remains in jail after his bond was reduced and his case was bound over to a grand jury.
Major C. Beckwith, 60, of Warren waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Warren Municipal Court on a felonious-assault charge he faces. He remains in Trumbull County jail after his bond was lowered from $10,000 to $5,000.
Beckwith’s charge stems from an Aug. 31 incident, in which Lonnie R. Culver of North Scott Street Northeast sustained injuries to his arms, legs and back after Beckwith’s pit-bull dog attacked him. Culver alleges the attack was ordered by Beckwith, during a dispute over $10 he owed him.
When police arrived, they reported Culver was “bleeding heavily from his face and arms.”
Police later found Beckwith and his dog on nearby Porter Street Northeast. The dog had blood on its head and shoulder area. Beckwith, of Oak Knoll Avenue Southeast, had blood on his clothing, a police report said. The dog did not have up-to-date shots and was taken to the Trumbull County Dog Kennel, where it remains.
Beckwith pleaded innocent Sept. 1 to the charges.
The case will be sent to a grand jury at the Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. If convicted of the crime, Beckwith could face up to eight years in prison.
In May, Warren police cited Beckwith for failing to carry vicious-dog insurance, a misdemeanor.