SANTA ANA – A 52-year-old man was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for attacking his neighbor and her small dog as they walked in Irvine last year.

Craig Andrew Ledbetter of Irvine pleaded guilty to two felony counts of attempted murder and elder abuse, and two misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty and resisting an officer, according to the Orange County Dsistrict Attorney’s Office.

On Sept. 29, 2015, the woman, who was 75 at the time, was walking her family’s mini poodle on Rockwood in the Woodbridge community at about 2:45 p.m., when a screaming and naked Ledbetter ran up to her and knocked her to the groud, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Ledbetter got on top of the victim and punched her in the face and chest. He then stood up and repeatedly kicked her in the head. He took the dog by the leash and swung the dog over his shoulder.

Witnesses called 911 and police responded to the scene. Officers had to use a Taser to subde Ledbetter and arrest him, authorities said.

The victim suffered serious injuries, including bleeding in the brain, a dislocated left arm and eye injuries, prosecutors said. Her dog was not injured.

Authories said it was not immediately clear what provoked the attack.

Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com