Case Details

Dog-fighting, neglect - two dogs seized
Muncie, IN (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006
County: Delaware
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA

Abuser/Suspect: Christopher Wilson

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 10729
Classification: Fighting, Neglect / Abandonment
Animal: dog (pit-bull)
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Christopher Wilson, 21, 3418 S. Juniper Lane, was arrested Dec. 19 after Muncie police and firefighters responded to a fire in a condemned house at 823 E. Main St.

Police reported finding a young pit bull tied to a treadmill with a one-foot leash and no food or water.

They also found an adult pit bull with scars in a small cage without food or water and living in its own waste, according to police reports.

That adult pit bull was identical to a pit bull featured in photographs found on a kitchen table of two dogs fighting, police said.

The dogs were seriously neglected but uninjured in the fire, according to animal control officers.

At the time of his arrest, Wilson told police he no longer lived on East Main Street but kept some of his possessions there, including his dogs, according to his arrest report.

Prosecutors have charged Wilson with promoting an animal fighting contest, a class D felony, and resisting law enforcement and two counts of animal cruelty, all misdemeanors.

During Wilson's initial hearing on Feb 9, 2007 in Delaware Circuit Court 3, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Case Updates

A Muncie man convicted of participating in dogfighting was sentenced to one year in jail on September 17 by Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr.

Christopher Wilson, 22, was found guilty of promoting animal fighting, a class D felony carrying a standard 18-month sentence, and two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals at the conclusion of a September 4 bench trial.

Wilson�s arrest followed a December fire at a condemned house in the 800 block of East Main Street where two pit bulls were found.

Police said they found an adult dog in a cage that was standing in feces and urine without food or water, and a puppy tied to a treadmill with a one-foot leash.

Deputy Prosecutor Joe Orick provided photographs illustrating scars from chew marks on the head and legs of the adult pit bull. Jill Dolon, president of Unconditional Love Foundation, testified that the scars on the dog were consistent with wounds caused by dogfighting.

Wilson denied he had ever been involved in dogfighting, insisting that the animals were regularly fed and watered. He also claimed equipment in the house, such as the treadmill and scales, were for his personal use.

Barnet � who on Monday said Wilson was guilty of �taking advantage of defenseless animals� � imposed an 18-month sentence with six months suspended.

The judge also ruled Wilson would be on probation for one year upon his release from jail, and will be required to perform 200 hours of community service at the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals shelter or a similar facility.

Wilson said he didn�t intend to appeal his sentence.
Source: The Star Press - Sep 17, 2007
Update posted on Sep 18, 2007 - 5:17PM 
Christopher Wilson loved dogs as a child, according to his mother, but the Muncie man was found guilty Tuesday of promoting animal fighting and cruelty to animals.

"This is a case of an individual that benefited from fighting dogs," said Deputy Prosecutor Joe Orick, displaying photographs of a chewed-up pit bull that was found in Wilson's possession.

Wilson's mother, Brenda Gore, maintained the guilty verdicts rendered by Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr. were wrong.
"Chris raised dogs since he was nine," Gore said. "He loves animals."

Based on evidence presented by Orick, Barnet found Wilson, 22, guilty of promoting an animal fighting contest, a class D felony carrying a standard 18-month prison term, and two counts of animal cruelty, a class B misdemeanor with a maximum 180-day jail sentence.

The judge found Wilson not guilty of resisting law enforcement.

Barnet issued the verdicts after a two-hour bench trial and ordered Wilson held in jail pending a Sept. 17 sentencing hearing.

Wilson's arrest followed a December fire in a condemned house at 823 E. Main St. where two canines were found.

Police officer Michael Edwards said he found two pit bulls, an adult in a cage that was standing in feces and urine without food or water, and a puppy tied to a treadmill with a one-foot leash.

Orick provided photographs illustrating scars from chew marks on the head and legs of the adult pit bull.

Jill Dolon, president of Unconditional Love Foundation, testified that the scars on the dog were consistent with wounds caused by dog fighting.
The animal rights group has produced a documentary on dog fighting and also provides education to prevent animal cruelty.

Defense attorney Ross Rowland tried to exclude Dolon's testimony, saying she had no formal education in animal care and treatment. Barnet allowed the testimony after Dolon testified she received education and training as a county animal control officer.

Wilson denied he had ever been involved in dog fighting, insisting that the animals were regularly fed and watered. He also claimed equipment in the house, such as the treadmill and scales, were for his personal use.

"I moved out of the house because it was condemned," said Wilson, who maintained he continued to care for the two dogs and others there after moving out. The two dogs police found were taken to the Muncie Animal Shelter and later put to death.

Orick said the prosecutor's office took animal rights "very seriously."

"We aggressively pursue these cases any time we hear of dog fighting," the deputy prosecutor said.

Rowland, meanwhile, insisted there was no evidence to prove his client intended to commit the crimes against animals.
Source: IndyStar - Sept 5, 2007
Update posted on Sep 5, 2007 - 1:40PM 
The trial for accused dog-fighter Christopher Wilson has been set for September 4 at 9:00 a.m. in Delaware County Circuit Court.

Wilson faces felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges as a result of an incident last December, when police and firefighters responded to a fire in a condemned house.

Police reported finding a young pit bull tied to a treadmill with a one-foot leash and no food or water. They also reportedly found a scarred pit bull in a small cage without food or water and living in its own waste.

That dog was identical to one featured in photographs found on a kitchen table of two dogs fighting, police said.

Wilson remains free on bond.
Source: Cause #C307FD14
Update posted on Jun 19, 2007 - 2:36PM 
Judge Robert Barnet Jr. set a preliminary trial date for June 13. Wilson is free on bond.
Source: Star-Press - Feb 10, 2007
Update posted on Feb 10, 2007 - 12:13PM 

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References

The Star Press - Feb 10, 2007

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