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Man blames mother for dog lie; both pleaded guilty Date published: 11/14/2009
BY KEITH EPPS A mother and son whose lie about an Aug. 2 dog attack stirred fear and had authorities looking for a dog that didn't exist entered guilty pleas yesterday. Michael Taylor Baggett, 32, and Sandra Manes, 60, both pleaded guilty in Spotsylvania General District Court to filing a false police report. They blamed each other for the lie. Baggett, who was also convicted of three other charges, got a 12-month jail sentence with six months suspended. Manes got a suspended sentence. Baggett immediately appealed his sentence, which is allowable even on guilty pleas in General District Court. He remained free on bond pending a trial in circuit court. According to prosecutor Tom Shaia, Baggett's pit bull and Manes' pet Labrador got into a fight early Aug. 2 in the backyard of their residence at 1222 Dewberry Drive. Manes tried to break up the fight and suffered a broken leg, a broken finger and wounds that required 27 staples. The Lab was put to sleep as the result of the injuries it suffered in the fight. Animal control officers were called nearly seven hours later, Shaia said. Manes told them that a Rottweiler had attacked her and her dog while they were out on a walk. Authorities spent the next few days alerting the neighbors and looking for the dog before finding out that the dog didn't exist. Both Manes and Baggett later confessed that they lied about the incident. "There aren't many things worse than putting a whole neighborhood in fear and wasting all of [the animal control officers'] time," Shaia said. Baggett testified that he went along with the Rottweiler story because his mother had already made it up. "I was scared and I was trying to protect my mother," Baggett said. "I never thought it would balloon into what it did." Manes said Baggett told her what to tell authorities. "The whole story was dictated to me to me by my son," she said. "I was trying to protect [the pit bull] and my son from getting into trouble. I lied and I'm sorry." Both Shaia and Judge Michael Levy criticized Baggett for trying to blame his mother. Levy said it was clear that Baggett was behind the original lie. Baggett and Manes were also ordered to make $2,625 in restitution to the county for the time spent investigating their phony claim. Baggett was also ordered to have no contact with his mother while the case is on appeal. Shaia expressed concern that he might harm her for contradicting his claims yesterday. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
I drove by that house and glad to see its for sale. Now i
know its almost over. this house has been a thorn in a lot of
peoples side for years especially mine. this place has had a
bad reputation for years and a lot of things not right for any
one let alone children to live in. The worried nights are
finally over with and god sure does answer prayers. he sure
did mine. He works in misterious way.
I DROVE BY THAT HOUSE AND I AM SO GLAD THAT
THIS IS ALMOST OVER. THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN A
THORN IN A LOT OF PEOPLES SIDE FOR YEARS
ESPECIALLY MINE. EVER SINCE THE I 95 ISSUES THAT
HOUSE HAS BEEN THE MESS OF
CORUPTION,DRUGS,AND A LOT OF SHOULD NOT HAVE
BEENS. PLEASE SOMEONE BUY IT SO KIDS WILNNL
NEVER LIVE THERE AGAIN AND ALL THE SCARED
NIGHTS WILL NEVER BE AGAIN. GOD ANSWERED MY
PRAYERS NO I KNOW A FEW CHILDREN ARE SAFE.
THANK YOU GOD
THey are all crazy. when baggett was involved in the I95 issue on the front page his mother said my sons not a monster, he lives with her for a year he helped her but now shes afraid of him and its all his fault she said that he told her what to say come on she has a mind of her own and if he told her to jump off a bridge would she? come on lets get the facts straight. either you love your child one minute and then turn on him because its convient for you? iam glad shes not my mom.whats up with that?
the list of legal woes is amazing. How could he be out to walk the streets??
"DirtBaggett"... LOL!! That was good. Whats amazing is that this guy is still loose to prey on society, considering the number of convictions he has had over the years. A Google search popped this up: http://cravendesires.blogspot.com/2009/08/mega-loser-michael-t-baggett.html
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