Woman Apologizes for Pitbull Attack on IRS Employee

Lisa Hrizco Blechman of Santa Clarita Valley, Calif., apologized at her sentencing hearing for trying to sick her two dogs on an IRS employee who taped a summons on her front door.

Blechman, 47, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of assaulting a federal officer, according to the Daily Breeze. On Oct. 30, 2007, IRS employee Ruth Seidman went to Blechman's residence to serve a summons of an audit of her husband's business.

When the employee identified herself, Blechman began yelling and swearing at her, according to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Blechman told Seidman that if she did not remove the summons, Blechman would come outside with her dogs. As Seidman began to walk to her vehicle, Blechman opened the front door and released the dogs, including a pit bull, to scare the IRS employee. They did not run out and attack, but Seidman said the dogs frightened her. Blechman's attorney argued that the dogs were harmless and her pitbull was arthritic. Blechman was sentenced to two years' probation on the assault charge.

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Tax practice
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