Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Sheriff's Deputy arrested for dog-fighting

Sheriff's Deputy arrested for dog-fighting
Henderson, LA (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
County: Saint Martin
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Misdemeanor

Alleged: Ernest Jay Singleton

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 11844

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Deputy Ernest Jay Singleton was arrested and charged with 17 counts of cruelty to animals. The District Attorney's office says more than a dozen injured and neglected dogs were found at Singleton's house. The dogs had scars, injured feet and were found covered in feces and urine.

Assistant District Attorney Chester Cedars tells TV3 it's very likely Singleton was fighting the dogs - and he could face more charges. Cedars also expects more arrests will be made in connection with the case.

Singleton was arrested July 18th, he's on leave without pay from the Sheriff's Department for 14 days.

Case Updates

Deputy Ernest Singleton is serving a two week, unpaid suspension while the investigation continues.

Prosecutors say an anonymous call to the Saint Martin Parish Animal Control office lead to Singleton's arrest Wednesday on 17 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. The nine year veteran sheriff's deputy arrived home while the investigators were on scene. Singleton claims he never used any of his dogs for fighting.

Prosecutors are painting a much different picture. Assistant District Attorney Chester Cedars says once all the evidence is examined the charges could be upgraded. Cedars says just with the evidence now that looks almost certain.

Saint Martin Parish authorities say some of the dogs have been euthanized because they were considered too dangerous to rehabilitate, mainly the pit bulls seized. They say some of the canines were English and American bulldogs. Those dogs are being examined to determine if they're safe. Singleton says the fact he owned other breeds is further proof he does not participate in dog fighting.

Prosecutors say these upgraded charges could take place within a week. But now there's another investigation underway that could be related to this case.

Animal Control investigators seized three pit bull puppies and a female pit bull Friday from behind a burned out home located next to Singleton's home on the Henderson Highway.

Authorities say this investigation is linked to the Singleton case, but few details are available.

Source: KLFY - Aug 5, 2007
Update posted on Aug 6, 2007 - 5:21PM

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In St. Martin detectives and Animal Control officers met Friday to talk about the next step in an investigation into a possible dog fighting operation.

St. Martin sheriff's deputy Ernest Singleton is charged with seventeen counts of simple cruelty to animals. The assistant district attorney says additional charges against Singleton are likely.

The DA's office believes the deputy was raising dogs to fight them. When animal control officers got to his house, they found more than a dozen dogs caged, injured and covered in their own waste.

The deputy is on unpaid leave from the sheriff's office. He faces misdemeanor charges now, but more serious charges could come depending on the ongoing investigation.

Source: KATC - July 27, 2007
Update posted on Jul 28, 2007 - 8:04PM

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KATC - July 26, 2007

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Sheriff's Deputy arrested for dog-fightingHenderson, LA (US)

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Sheriff's Deputy arrested for dog-fighting
Henderson, LA (US)