Dog-case suspect released on bond
Partlow resident charged in fatal dog-mauling makes first appearance in Spotsylvania Circuit Court
Date published: 3/25/2005
Woman appears before judge
A Spotsylvania woman charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the fatal dog mauling of her neighbor faces an April 20 arraignment.
Deanna Large, 36, posted $10,000 bond Wednesday and appeared before Circuit Court Judge William H. Ledbetter during a brief hearing yesterday.
Large, making her first court appearance since being indicted by a grand jury last week, listened as the charges against her were formally read. She has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and three misdemeanor charges of allowing a dangerous dog to run loose.
The charges stem from the March 8 death of 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan. She and her small dog, Buttons, were killed by three wandering pit bulls near Sullivan's Partlow home.
All three dogs involved in the mauling have since been killed. Large admitted owning one of the dogs, but Spotsylvania Commonwealth's Attorney William Neely has said the ensuing investigation revealed that she owned all three unneutered males and had been warned to keep them under better control.
Dressed in blue jeans and a gray V-neck sweater yesterday, Large answered Ledbetter's questions in a hushed tone.
The judge asked if Large was seeking an attorney to represent her.
"Yes, sir," she said.
Had she retained one yet?
"No, sir," she said.
Did she post her $10,000 bond Wednesday?
"Yes, sir," she said.
Large declined comment after the hearing, and rushed to a pickup with a television camera in pursuit.
A trial date will be set when Large appears in court for her arraignment.
Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum 10-year sentence. The misdemeanor charges each carry a one-year maximum.
To reach ROB DAVIS: 540/374-5418 rdavis@freelancestar.com
A Spotsylvania County woman, whose three dogs allegedly attacked and killed her elderly neighbor, was freed Wednesday by posting a $10,000 bond. Dianna Large, 36, received one felony charge of involuntary manslaughter and three misdemeanor charges in an indictment issued last week.

In her first appearance before a judge, she answered Circuit Court Judge William H. Ledbetter questions with simple “Yes sir.” and “No sir.” responses. The short hearing, held Thursday, formalized the charges against her. The involuntary manslaughter charge, a first in the severity of punishment being sought on a dog owner in the Virginan state of USA, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

State procecutor Wiliam Neely said that Large knowingly let her three Pit Bull dogs run free, and that an animal control agency person had warned her to keep them under better control. She also a violated a county ordinance requiring owners of dangerous dogs to post a warning sign to visitors.  The prosecution also noted that none of the three male dogs were neutered.

The Animal Control Department of Virginia maintains a dangerous dog registry. It contains a list of owners whose dogs are deemed dangerous to society. The link to the registry was moved to a more prominent position on the county web page following the attack.