At a Glance
- Court
- Jefferson County District Court
- Case Type
- Criminal Indictment
- Parties
- People of Colorado v. Kayla Mooney; People of Colorado v. Victor Bentley
- Jurisdiction
- Jefferson County, Colorado
- Date
- 2022-10-24
- Status
- Plea Entered
The Colorado First Judicial District Attorney's Office announced charges against the owners of two pit bulls involved in an attack that killed a woman and injured her grandson, in a case The New York Times identified as among the more serious criminal prosecutions arising from a dog mauling in recent years [1]. The attack occurred Sept. 14 in Golden, Colorado, when officers responded just before 3:35 p.m. to a report of an animal bite.[2][3] Mary Gehring, 88, and her grandson had been attacked by the dogs in a fenced-in backyard and were taken to the hospital.[3] Gehring later died from her injuries [1].
Kayla Mooney, 33, and Victor Bentley, 29, are the alleged owners of the two 7-year-old pit bulls, and both face felony charges for the unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog resulting in death, which is a strict liability crime.[2] Jefferson County District Attorney Alexis King filed the multiple charges against Mooney and Bentley in district court.[2] Mooney is the mother of the injured boy and the granddaughter of Gehring. She faces four counts: two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts for the unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog.[2] Bentley faces one felony count and one misdemeanor count for the unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog.[2] Mooney was charged for both dogs because they were physically kept at her house, according to the case affidavit; Bentley lives elsewhere.[2]
If convicted on the felony counts, Mooney could face a maximum of 6 years in prison and Bentley a maximum of 3 years.[2] Colorado law bans ownership of dogs that injure or kill people, and owners can face a range of criminal convictions, including felonies, if their dog is involved in a fatal attack.[2] Under the state statute, a dog that kills a person triggers a class 5 felony, with punishment including 1 to 3 years in prison and fines ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.[4] Both Mooney and Bentley stated they had no reason to believe either dog would attack anyone, and had no prior experiences with either dog to believe they were dangerous.[3]
In early March 2023, Mooney pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful ownership of a dangerous dog, one a felony and one a misdemeanor, in connection with Gehring's death.[2] Mooney received a stipulated 2-year deferred judgment, with conditions including 100 hours of public service, no dog ownership for one year, and mandatory enrollment in a dog ownership class.[2] Bentley's case remained pending at the time of Mooney's plea.[3] The two pit bulls were captured after the attack and taken to a veterinary hospital; one was euthanized due to its injuries, and the other was later euthanized at Foothills Animal Shelter after both owners surrendered ownership.[3]
The case drew attention to a broader question about the reach of Colorado's dangerous dog statute. Colorado's dog bite law operates as a strict liability statute, meaning an owner could be held civilly or criminally liable even if unaware that the dog was dangerous or capable of the offense.[4] Under the statute, owners found guilty face misdemeanor penalties if their dogs cause bodily injury, and felony charges if their dogs cause the death of a person.[5] The Gehring case signals that prosecutors in Colorado are prepared to pursue the statute's maximum criminal exposure when attacks prove fatal.
References
[1] The New York Times. (2022, June 13). Colorado Pit Bull Owner Charged With Felony After Dog Kills Woman. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/us/pit-bull-attack-colorado-charges.html
[2] Colorado Public Radio. (2022, October 25). Charges filed against owners of pit bulls that attacked and killed Golden resident. https://www.cpr.org/2022/10/25/charges-filed-against-owners-of-pit-bulls-that-attacked-and-killed-golden-resident/
[3] KDVR / FOX31 Denver. (2023, March 17). Deadly pit bulls attack: 1 owner pleads guilty to dangerous dog charges. https://kdvr.com/news/local/owner-of-pit-bulls-in-deadly-attack-pleads-guilty/
[4] Robinson & Henry. (2025, November 17). Colorado Dog Bite Lawyers: Defending Owners. https://www.robinsonandhenry.com/blog/criminal-defense/dog-bite/
[5] Animal Legal & Historical Center. Colorado Dangerous Dog Statute, C.R.S. § 18-9-204.5. https://www.animallaw.info/statute/co-dangerous-dog-article-9-offenses-against-public-peace-order-and-decency