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Case ID: 11106
Classification: Fighting
Animal: chicken
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Cockfighting
Medina, OH (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 31, 2007
County: Medina

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Earl F. Kanzeg
» Yvonne M. Brine - Convicted
» Howard E. Canter - Convicted
» Edwin M. Concepcion
» Frank A. Dudas, Jr.
» Douglas E. Engler - Convicted
» Terry L. Hamilton - Convicted
» Raymond M. Johnson
» Dale W. Lind, Sr.
» Dale W. Lind, Jr. - Convicted
» Kent Lind - Convicted
» Eric V. Pearce - Convicted
» Brian D. Purdy - Convicted
» David F. Rice - Convicted
» Richard M. Rinehart, III - Convicted
» James F. Rose
» John L. Senz
» Curtis E. Slabaugh - Convicted
» Jamie L. Stover - Convicted
» juvenile abuser name unreleased

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Thirteen of the 21 people arrested in connection with an alleged York Township cockfighting ring appeared before a judge on March 26, asking him to dismiss some of their charges.

But Municipal Judge Dale H. Chase told Bob Campbell, who represents the 13 defendants who appeared Monday, he would not consider dropping charges of animal cruelty - a second-degree misdemeanor - in place of charges of animal fighting.

Campbell argued that, because his clients had already been charged with the more-specific offense of animal fighting - a fourth-degree misdemeanor - they should not also face the more general, and more punitive, animal cruelty charges.

Prosecuting attorney Jeff Holland successfully argued the charges were dissimilar enough to merit separate charges for each.

Holland, a Sharon Township attorney hired by the county, prosecutes animal cruelty cases across the region.

"The fact of the matter is, you can charge for both because they're two separate things," Holland said after the hearing. "I suspect that all of the charges will stand at the end of the day."

During the hearing, Chase said he would consider Campbell's request to drop five charges of possession of criminal tools.

Campbell argued, along similar lines, that some of the alleged criminal tools - in two instances, actually a rooster - were already covered under other charges.

In February, Medina County sheriff's deputies raided the home and barn of Earl F. Kanzeg after a month-long undercover investigation into alleged cockfighting on his Beck Road property.

In all, 21 people were arrested, including a 16-year-old boy, and all face various misdemeanor charges, including gambling, animal fighting, operating a gambling house, possession of criminal tools, cruelty to animals, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and illegal sale of alcohol.

The rest of those charged in connection with the investigation are represented by other attorneys, and are awaiting their appearances in court in the coming weeks.


Case Updates

Most of the defendants arrested in a cockfighting raid in February have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of animal fighting, with some also pleading to animal cruelty charges.

Out of the 19 adults charged, 13 have pleaded guilty or no contest to at least one charge in Medina Municipal Court, said Jeff Holland, a local attorney who prosecutes animal cruelty cases.

They, along with one juvenile, were arrested in an early-morning raid at a barn at 4023 Beck Road in York Township after a monthlong undercover investigation.

The barn and property are owned by Earl F. Kanzeg Jr., 59, who has pleaded guilty to animal fighting and animal cruelty. He will be sentenced Aug. 8.

Animal cruelty is a second-degree misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine, while animal fighting (excluding dogs) is a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.

Four defendants have been sentenced and were ordered to pay $250 plus court costs by Judge Dale Chase. One was sentenced to two years' probation and is prohibited from being on a property with live poultry during that time, Holland said.

Four defendants are scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, and two more are scheduled for October. Many of the defendants originally were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a first-degree misdemeanor, but Chase dropped the charges Tuesday.

During the upcoming sentencing hearings, Holland said he will ask for the maximum amount of probation for each defendant, along with fines, because they may quickly resume organizing and observing cockfights if they are not prohibited from doing so.

"It's a culture," he said. "The whole idea is to break this habit."

Those also charged include:

Yvonne M. Brine, 47, of 2895 Columbia Road, York Township; pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and animal fights, sentencing pending;

Howard E. Canter, 73, of 5663 Chippewa Road, Lafayette Township; pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals and animal fights, sentencing pending;

Edwin M. Concepcion Sr., 38, of Ravenna; charged with animal cruelty and animal fights; trial scheduled for Tuesday;

Frank A. Dudas Jr., 36, of 7534 Lafayette Road, Lafayette Township; charged with possession of criminal tools, animal cruelty and animal fights, trial scheduled for Oct. 30;

Douglas E. Engler, 56, of 4023 Beck Road, York Township, pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and animal fights, sentencing pending;

Terry L. Hamilton, 40, of Sullivan Township; pleaded guilty to animal fights, fined $250 plus court courts;

Raymond M. Johnson, 30, of 656 Pronto St., Lodi; charged with cruelty to animals and animal fights, trial scheduled for Tuesday;

Dale W. Lind, 48, of 3135 S. Weymouth Road, Medina Township; charged with possession of criminal tools, animal cruelty and animal fights, trial scheduled for Tuesday;

Dale W. Lind Jr., 24, of 6443 Vandemark Road, Litchfield Township; pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and animal fights, sentencing pending;

Kent Lind, 56, 482 Medina Road, Medina; pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and animal fights, sentencing pending;

Eric V. Pearce, 20, of Rittman; pleaded no contest to animal fights, fined $250 plus court costs;

Brian D. Purdy, 36, of 8377 Hartman Road, Wadsworth Township; pleaded guilty to animal fights, sentenced to two years probation and fined $250 plus court costs;

David F. Rice, 51, of Wakeman, Ohio; pleaded guilty to animal fights and animal cruelty, sentencing pending;

Richard M. Rinehart III, 52, of Creston; pleaded guilty to animal fights, fined $250 plus court costs;

James F. Rose, 36, of 9541 Zimmerman Road, Homer Township; charged with gambling, possession of criminal tools, animal cruelty and animal fights, trial scheduled for Oct. 30;

John L. Senz, 49, of 5858 Maple St., Chippewa Lake; charged with animal cruelty and animal fights, trial scheduled for Tuesday;

Curtis E. Slabaugh, 55, of 5939 Lafayette Road, Lafayette Township; pleaded guilty to animal fighting and animal cruelty, sentencing pending;

Jamie L. Stover, 20, of 6443 Vandemark Road, Lafayette Township; pleaded guilty to animal fights, sentencing pending.
Source: Medina Gazette � Jul 20, 2007
Update posted on Jul 22, 2007 - 7:40PM 

References

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