The dog thief who shot and injured Lady Gaga’s dog walker has been sentenced to 21 years in jail.
Similar to a guilty plea, James Howard Jackson pleaded no contest to attempted murder.
According to court testimony, Ryan Fischer was walking Jackson’s three French bulldogs in Hollywood in February 2021 when Jackson shot him in the chest.
After the attack, Mr. Fischer had to have a portion of his lung removed.
According to CBS News, he attended Monday’s court session and stated that the shooting had irrevocably altered his life.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office referred to the incident as a “heartless act of violence.”
Several other accusations against Jackson were dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Following the incident, Jackson and one of four other accomplices seized two of the dogs, Koji and Gustav.
Miss Asia, the third bulldog, escaped and was subsequently captured by the police.
The police stated at the time that they believed the dogs were targeted because of their breed, not because of their owners.
Two days later, the two stolen pups were returned unhurt after Gaga offered a $500,000 (£359,000) reward.
Harold White, an accomplice, pleaded guilty on Monday to violating the rule prohibiting former inmates from carrying firearms. His sentencing is scheduled for next year.
Jaylin Keyshawn White, the son of White, and Lafayette Shon Whaley both pled guilty to second-degree robbery and were sentenced to four and six years in prison, respectively, last year.
Jennifer McBride, who returned the dogs, was later charged with being an accessory to attempted murder, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Her case is still pending.
Jackson’s court date was delayed after he was incorrectly freed from prison in April due to a “clerical error,” as explained by the US Marshals Service at the time. He was arrested again the following month.
