A man charged with stabbing a second police dog after being released on probation for a previous stabbing had a hearing canceled on Jan. 31 because he was exposed to COVID-19, an official said.

Dedrick Daknell Jones, 35, could not come to San Diego Superior Court Jan. 31 because he was in medical isolation in jail, said a court official.

Judge Michael Groch re-scheduled the preliminary hearing for April 5. It isn’t known if Jones has COVID-19 or if someone in his unit had it and he is in isolation because he was exposed to it.

Jones served six months in jail in 2021 for stabbing Titan, a police dog in the Midway District, but he was arrested again on Dec. 17 on charges of stabbing Hondo, a second police dog in another encounter on Riley Street in the Midway District.

His probation was revoked because of the new charges for which he has pleaded not guilty that include felony assault on a police dog, animal cruelty, making a criminal threat, and brandishing a knife at an officer.

Deputy District Attorney Jessica Paugh said he could face a maximum sentence of 15 years and four months in prison because his previous case could act as a strike offense, a violent felony.

Hondo was stabbed twice in the chest and is believed he will make a full recovery. Titan’s injury was more severe as he had part of his colon removed and he required 100 stitches.

“Our system must do a better job holding violent offenders accountable,” said Police Chief David Nisleit in December after Jones’ arrest.

“It is ironic and tragic that the man who had the gall to stab a police dog in January (2021) committed the same crime just months later,” said Nisleit.

“This suspect must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law so that he will not have the opportunity to cause further harm,” said the police chief.

Jones remains in jail without bail because of the probation violation.