A man who shot and wounded Lady Gaga's dog walker last year after stealing her French bulldogs has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.
The sentence was announced on Monday after officials said the man took a plea deal.
It's believed the thieves did not realise the dogs belonged to the Poker Face singer, but the motive was purely regarding the value of the French bulldogs - a breed that can cost thousands of dollars,.
One of the three men who participated in the robbery, James Howard Jackson, pleaded no contest to one count of attempted murder, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Two of his accomplices were said to have made the same plea.
It was not immediately clear which attorney represented Howard on Monday.
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AFP via Getty Images)It read: "It's hard to believe that it's nearing two years since I was taking Asia, Koji and Gustav out for an evening stroll when - in an instant - I suddenly found myself fighting with everything I had to protect those dogs from being stolen.
"But it wasn't enough: I was beaten, strangled, shot and left to die bleeding out on a sidewalk and gasping for my life. And Koji and Gustav were gone."
Prosecutors had previously described how Jackson and two others drove around Hollywood, the city of West Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley on Feb. 24, 2021 "looking for French bulldogs," before they found Fischer and the three animals..
During the robbery which occurred just off the famed Sunset Boulevard, Jackson shot Fischer. At this time, two of the dogs were taken. Fischer's screams could be heard on a nearby doorbell camera which recorded him shouting: "Oh, my God! I've been shot!" and "Help me!" and "I'm bleeding out from my chest!"
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Instagram)Fischer later called the violence a "very close call with death" in a number of social media posts. He admitted in his latest statement he is still healing physically and mentally from the incident in which he had to have a part of his lung removed.
He also addressed Jackson directly in the statement to tell him he forgives all those involved in the attack.
He continued: "You completely altered my life, and I know I can't fully move forward from the night you shot me until I said those words to you."
Jennifer McBride - who was also charged in the crime - returned the animals a few days later after the pop star had offered a $500,000 reward - "no questions asked" - to be reunited with the dogs.
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saintrocque/Instagram)Image:
Instagram)Jackson also admitted the allegation of inflicting great bodily injury and to a prior strike, the DA's office said Monday. The prosecutor's office did not immediately say what the prior strike was.
"The plea agreement holds Mr. Jackson accountable for perpetrating a coldhearted violent act and provides justice for our victim," the office said in a statement. Howard had been charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit a robbery and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.
Another accomplice, Harold White, pleaded no contest Monday to a count of ex-convict in possession of a gun. White, and McBride were in a relationship at the time. While White will be sentenced next year, McBride's case is ongoing.