Owner Given Probation in Lion’s Attack on Girl
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SAN ANTONIO — A jury on Wednesday sentenced the owner of a lion that attacked a young girl to 10 years of probation and a $5,000 fine, and a judge ordered the man to sell his exotic animals and stay away from children.
The jury had convicted Gary Durkovitz, 35, of injury to a child last week, but continued to deliberate on the sentence. Durkovitz’s pet lion “Samson” attacked Roxanne Hernandez, 8, last October at the Texas Flea Market in Houston.
Durkovitz must dispose of his exotic animals, stay away from children and serve 30 days in Harris County jail, District Judge Ted Poe ordered. He imposed additional terms of probation that include community service work.
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