LAPEER, MI - A couple initially charged with second-degree murder after their dogs mauled and killed a jogger face sentencing on their no-contest pleas to one charge each of owning a dangerous dog causing death.

After a plea deal was arranged on Friday, Sebastiano Quagliata and Valbona Lucaj each will face up to 15 years in prison, although the judge can add up to 6 months more, according to the plea agreement.

Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson said he anticipates a sentence of 19 to 38 months in prison, as sentencing will vary based on information from the preliminary examination in court.

Quagliata's attorney, Jason Malkiewicz, said he will push for probation during a sentencing hearing on June 8.

The couple accepted the plea deal on Friday, April 24, before Lapeer County Chief Circuit Judge Nick Holowka.

Husband and wife, Quagliata and Lucaj were charged with second-degree murder in August after their two Cane Corso dogs mauled and killed Craig Sytsma, 46.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Sytsma, who was jogging down Thomas Road, came into contact with these animals, named Toni and Julia," Holowka said.

The second-degree murder charge was a rare, first-of-its-kind charge for a dog attack in the state -- drawing comparisons to a high-profile dog mauling in San Francisco -- as the prosecution argued that, because of two prior biting incidents, the couple knew the dogs were dangerous.

Defense attorneys, however, argued that Lucaj was in Boston when Sytsma was killed and the couple shouldn't face the murder charge because they did not believe the dogs were vicious.

"(The couple had) no intention to do anything to hurt anyone," Malkiewicz told The Flint Journal, adding he never believed the second-degree murder charges would hold.

Turkelson said he still believes the charging of second-degree murder was "solid" but after an evidentiary hearing last Friday, some evidence couldn't be used and would've made the trial tougher.

"It made it more complicated," he said. "It made it, quite frankly, a less strong second-degree murder case."

After the July 23 mauling of Sytsma, a cancer survivor, details were brought out during the preliminary hearing, including details on the day of Sytsma's death. Neighbors detailed his final minutes as they attempted to save him, prior concerns were noted by the veterinarian of the dogs, and the former Lapeer County Animal Control chief testified about the background of the dogs.

"I think today was the first day my clients got to sit over there and accept responsibility for actions," Malkiewicz said. "I think the death of Mr. Sytsma has sat in their heads for a year and it's been a nightmare to my clients, as well as everyone involved."

Family upset with law

The family's attorney, Glenn Saltsman, said family and friends consider Sytsma's death an "extremely tragic loss," Saltsman said.

Saltsman called laws regarding dog bites and the dangerous dog causing death law, "archaic and weak."

In the preliminary hearing, the prosecution said the dogs had two previous instances of attacking people who were walking along the road.

"These dogs should've never been alive after the first attack," he said, adding he finds it "insane" the family was fined just $100 for each bite. The family is in the process of filing a civil suit against Quagliata and Lucaj, he said.

Turkelson said he agreed with the family on the need for law changes regarding dangerous dogs. But Malkiewicz said the maximum sentence for owning a dangerous dog causing death is nothing to scoff at.

"It's punishable by up to 15 years in prison," he said.