Mom Forgives Man Whose Dogs Fatally Mauled Son

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Updated at 11:58 a.m.

Detroit, MI — Geneke Lyons, who was convicted last month in the horrific dog mauling that killed a 4-year-old boy as he walked to school with his mother, was sentenced to five years probation, the first of it to be spent in jail, during his sentencing Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court.

During his sentencing on manslaughter and possessing a dangerous dog causing death, Lyons also was ordered not to have any future contact with dogs, according the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

Lyons will receive credit for 43 days already served in jail, and will also be on work release while he is incarcerated.

The sentence was below guidelines, but Wayne County Circuit Judge James Callahan said he believed Lyons was remorseful and that he had turned around his life previously been imprisoned for dugs, The Detroit News reports.

Lucille Strickland, whose son was mauled to death by Lyons' four pit bull mixes last December, said she forgave Lyons, who apologized earlier and said he “could not imagine the pain” she was experiencing.

“I’m willing to forgive you for what your dogs did,” Strickland said.

The still grieving mother said kisses Xavier's picture every morning when she wakes up. “That is a part of me I can’t get back,” she said.

Lyons was convicted of the chargs on June 9 after Callahan told the jury the prosecution hadn’t proven second-degree murder, the original charge.

He could have gone to prison for up to 15 years.

During the weeklong trial, Strickland recalled the horrendous Dec. 2 mauling that left Xavier bleeding from 90 puncture wounds.

She said three of the dogs drug Xavier under the gate into a back yard, where Lyons kept them. A fourth dog joined in the attack, and police had to shoot the dogs to free the boy.

“The dogs grabbed his leg and started yanking him ... pulling him,” Xavier’s grieving mother testified. “I was trying to pull back. I tried to have a tight grip. I just couldn’t. I could just grab a shoe. When they got to the gate, I was still trying to grab him.”

Strickland said Xavier’s last words were “Help me mommy, help me mommy, help me.”