A Mastic woman whose pit bull mauled a 2-year-old boy and attacked the toddler’s uncle has been sentenced to eight months in jail after admitting she violated the probation imposed in the case, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
Amy Willi, 48, was sentenced Wednesday, Aug. 26, after admitting she violated conditions of her three-year probation, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
Willi had pleaded guilty in September 2024 to second-degree reckless endangerment stemming from a March 14, 2023, dog attack.
According to court documents and Willi’s admissions during her guilty plea, she failed to adequately secure her male pit bull, Kojo, inside her home before opening the front door.
A 2-year-old boy was playing in the front yard of a home across the street when the dog ran toward him, prosecutors said.
The boy’s uncle picked up the toddler in an attempt to protect him. Kojo bit the uncle on the left forearm, causing the child to fall to the ground, according to prosecutors.
The dog then bit the 2-year-old multiple times on his face, head and body, causing lacerations to his right eye, cheek, scalp and leg.
Several family members came outside and forced the dog to release the child. The toddler was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he received stitches.
Prosecutors said Willi admitted to law enforcement that she knew Kojo was a dangerous dog with violent tendencies.
The dog was later found abandoned and taken to a local shelter, where prosecutors said he attacked a staff member. Kojo was ultimately euthanized.
Willi pleaded guilty Sept. 25, 2024, to second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class A misdemeanor. On April 28, 2025, she was sentenced to three years of probation.
Her probation conditions included completing 320 hours of community service, reporting to a probation officer, refraining from alcohol and narcotics, complying with a treatment program and not owning, possessing or caring for animals for three years.
Prosecutors said Willi failed over several months to comply with virtually all of those conditions except the restriction against owning or possessing an animal.
The Suffolk County Department of Probation filed a violation action, and Willi was arraigned and remanded in April 2026.
“This defendant’s repeated disregard for court orders, the rule of law and public safety is unacceptable,” Tierney said. “After pleading guilty to recklessly allowing her violent dog to attack a toddler and the child’s uncle, the defendant failed to comply with virtually any of the terms of her probation.”
Acting County Court Judge F. Scott Carrigan sentenced Willi to eight months in jail after she admitted the probation violation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adriana Noyola of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team.
Photo: SCDA
