BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The owner of a pitbull terrier that killed a 7-year-old girl in January 2023 pleaded no contest to negligent homicide in August as part of a plea agreement, according to court documents. Erick Lopez, 22, was sentenced to five years in prison, but that sentence was suspended. Court documents said he won’t serve time if he follows the rules of probation for three years. The Monday, Sept. 9 trial date was canceled. Some of the conditions of the probation include that Lopez must attend a responsible dog ownership class and not own any animals while on probation, according to court documents. Emergency responders and the St. George Fire Department were called to the 25000 block of Kendalwood Road after a girl was reportedly attacked by a dog. She was taken to the hospital but died from her injuries, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office. Baton Rouge man charged with attempted murder; police say he hit woman with bat According to arrest documents, Sadie Davila was playing outside a relative's house when Lopez's pitbull terrier stepped foot onto the property and attacked her. Medical staff told deputies that she suffered multiple bites to her face and significant damage to her skull. Deputies caught the pitbull and found blood on its mouth and face. It was captured and taken to East Baton Rouge Animal Control. Lopez reportedly admitted that his dog was unrestrained and would roam the property where Davila was attacked, according to arrest documents. Lopez was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with negligent homicide. In August 2023, Lopez pleaded not guilty. Latest News Active shooter reports in Laurel County, Kentucky, shuts down I-75 Baton Rouge man gets suspended sentence, probation after dog kills girl Biden charts course for final months of presidency Suarez returns to the site of the closest finish in NASCAR history looking for a playoff payoff Trump slams Dick Cheney as ‘irrelevant’ after he backed Harris