Fatal mauling case goes to trial

PANAMA CITY — The man who’s dogs got free and mauled a 7-year-old neighbor boy to death in April is scheduled to put his fate in the hands of a jury this week.

Edward Daniels, 21, could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if he’s convicted of manslaughter. He’s also charged with marijuana possession and tampering with evidence for allegedly washing the blood from the animals after the April 2 attack on Tyler Jett in his front yard.

The community rallied around Jett as he clung to life in a Pensacola hospital, where doctors worked to help Jett survive his torn scalp and punctured carotid artery. His mother, Brandy Wilhite, made the decision to turn off the machines keeping her son alive five days after the attack.

Prosecutor Larry Basford has filed notices that he plans to put forth evidence that Daniels had been an irresponsible custodian of dogs even before M.J. and Fat Boy, two bulldogs, got loose and killed Jett. The dogs, which were euthanized after mauling Jett, had cornered a neighbor’s grandfather just days earlier. The neighbor later told reporters he was moments away from shooting the dogs.

Bay County Animal Control cited Daniels for allowing the dogs to run loose, but because the dogs didn’t bite anyone that day, they were not eligible to be placed on animal control’s list of dangerous dogs, a designation that places enhanced restrictions on owners and exposes them to felony charges if the dogs attack without provocation and seriously injure of kill someone.

Daniels had another dog named Dude that was declared dangerous after it bit a 9-year-old in the face in 2012. Basford intends to put that incident in front of the jury. He will have to convince the jury that Daniels knew the dogs were dangerous, and the “actions of the dog(s) and the defendant are inextricably entwined with the facts and circumstances this case (sic),” according to records.

Public Defender Kevin Carlisle is representing Daniels. He could not be reached for comment.