Canine expert says dog-mauling incident unforeseeable

In the dog-mauling trial involving a 2013 incident in which 4-year-old Jordyn Arndt of Prairie City was killed, the defense rested its case after the jury heard from California-based canine expert Ron Berman Tuesday at the Jasper County Courthouse.

The expert witness, following months of investigation, testified that in his expert opinion defendant Jena M. Wright was not provided enough information prior to the incident to know her American Staffordshire terrier would cause harm to Arndt.

Berman told jurors he reviewed testimony of all witnesses in the case and interviewed state witnesses Richard Foster, James Billingsley, Tiffany Ewing and Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty who previously testified to their violent encounters with the dog.

"Based on all the work I've done there's no evidence prior to this tragic incident with (Arndt) on April 22, 2013 that would suggest (the dog) presented a specific, unusual or serious danger to (Arndt) when she was left unsupervised by the defendant," Berman said.

He also testified if a dog is aggressive by nature, it'll show at a very young age. Even though a dog is aggressive towards a mailman or another dog there would be no reason to believe it would show aggression to kids, he said.

During the state's case, Bennett informed the jury about two occasions the terrier attacked the defendant's other dog, which caused it to need veterinarian attention.

The incidents were addressed by previous defense witnesses earlier in the day.

Berman said there 's no parallel from a dog attacking another dog to that same dog attacking a kid.

During his testimony, Berman explained many types of aggression dogs can have – specifically territorial aggression and idiopathic aggression – to the jury. He explained idiopathic as being an "unpredictable aggression" the defendant's canine could have shown that day.

He explained the encounters state witnesses testified to earlier as most likely being a dog protecting its territory. Which would mean there's no reason to believe the canine would act the same way to Arndt, who was not a stranger to it.

However, during cross examination by Assistant Jasper County Attorney Kelly Bennett, Berman was asked if it was possible the canine attacked Arndt because of pain aggression – when a dog acts out after being hurt. Bennett also asked him if Arndt's injuries could have been from the dog being protective of the defendant's daughter, who was also outside with Arndt.

"Anything's possible," Berman said. "I'm saying it's possible, but I'm not saying it's probable."

Five and a half months of investigation and interviews led to Berman to present his opinion to the jury that there was "no evidence" to support Wright could have foreseen the incident with Arndt.

"Nobody said they told (Wright)," he said. "I was looking for that because this case turns on that,"

The defense began the day presenting its opening argument and calling the defendant's husband, Wes Wright, and mother-in-law to the stand.

Wes Wright, the defendant's husband, was one of five witnesses who testified Tuesday morning — all saying the defendant's American Staffordshire terrier never gave them reason to believe it would attack Arndt.

Two friends of the defendant also testified. During cross-examination each told Bennett if they witnessed the encounters referenced in earlier testimony by Billinglsey, Foster and Halferty, their opinions about the dog being friendly would not change.

The defendant alleges she was doing a load of laundry when Arndt was attacked in the backyard, but the defense argued Tuesday Jena Wright was still keeping an eye on the children outside.

Sydney Rinehart lived in the residence prior to Jena Wright and her family and testified the house has a very large and "very thin window" in the living room overlooking the backyard.

"You could hear everything, even with the washer and dryer going," the former resident said.

Defense Attorney TJ Hier also called the defendant's mother-in-law to the stand — who was present at the time of Jena Wright's arrest.

Jena Wright is being tried for misdemeanor charges of assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury and interference with official acts. The defendant's mother-in-law testified Jena Wright was not causing a lot of commotion when former Prairie City Police Chief Louis Modlin placed her under arrest April 23, 2013.

The defense rested its case at 3:30 p.m. without testimony from the defendant.

Jena Wright could face up to 25 years on a charge for child endangerment resulting in death, a Class B felony, and 10 years on a charge for neglect or abandonment of an independent, a Class C felony.

Closing arguments will be presented to the jury 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Contact Alex Olp at aolp@newtondailynews.com