Shawni Larrabee, director of Salt Lake County Animal Services, said her agency's records show that seven of Smith's eight pit bulls were brought to the shelter, but they had to be euthanized. There was no information about what happened to the eighth dog.

"Based on temperament testing, they were unable to be adopted out," she said earlier, adding that this is not unusual with dogs that have been trained for fighting.

Smith's mental competency to stand trial was raised earlier, but in February he was declared mentally competent.

At Smith's previous court hearing in September, Himonas chided him for not showing up for questioning for a presentence report and ordered that Smith be jailed.

Smith's defense attorney, Ed Brass, said then that Smith may have been confused about the presentence interview because Smith had already spoken to mental health experts regarding his competency. Brass told the court that Smith has several disabilities and mental health problems, including dementia.

However, prosecutor Fred Burmester said at the September hearing that Smith was simply displaying a "cavalier attitude" and did not take the court or the charges against him seriously.

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E-mail: lindat@desnews.com