L.A. Man Faces 21 Years In Prison After Pleading Guilty To Shooting Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker

Topline

A Los Angeles man who shot a dog walker working for singer Lady Gaga and stole her French bulldogs last year was sentenced to 21 years in prison as part of a plea agreement, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Monday to Forbes.

Key Facts

James Howard Jackson pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder, the DA’s office said

Jackson, who was one of several people allegedly involved in the crime, also admitted to inflicting great bodily injury and to a prior strike.

Another man involved, Harold White, pleaded no contest to one count of an ex-convict in possession of a gun; he will be sentenced next year.

The agreement holds Jackson “accountable for perpetrating a coldhearted violent act and provides justice for our victim,” the DA’s office said.

Key Background

In February of last year, Gaga’s dog walker Ryan Fischer was walking her three pooches—Koji, Guztav and Miss Asia—in Los Angeles, when Jackson and his accomplices were driving around the area, police say. The crew was on the hunt for Frenchies, a popular and expensive dog breed that can fetch thousands of dollars each. Jackson shot Fischer when stealing two of the dogs, and a third escaped during the incident. Fischer recovered, though he was in critical condition for a time. Gaga was not the target of the sting, and her celebrity connection was merely a coincidence, police have said. Gaga offered a $500,000 reward to find her pets, and they were ultimately returned to a local police station by a woman who said she found them, though she was ultimately charged with being an accessory after the fact and receiving stolen property. Jackson and four others were arrested last year in connection to the crime, but he was mistakenly released from jail in April because of a clerical error. He was re-arrested in August. Others involved have pleaded no contest to second-degree robbery for their involvement.

Further Reading

‘A Very Close Call With Death’: Lady Gaga’s Dog Walker Speaks Out After Shooting (Forbes)

What Happened To Lady Gaga’s Two Dogs? Her Dog Walker Was Shot, And The Singer Is Looking For Answers (Forbes)