Dog-fighting
Lamar, SC (US)Incident Date: Monday, Nov 12, 2007
County: Darlington
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Michael Thomas Robinson
» Erick Simon
» Wesley Truett
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
The S.C. Attorney General's office is investigating a dogfighting ring uncovered Nov. 12 in Darlington County. Investigators were preparing to serve petit larceny warrants at a Brown Road residence near Lamar when they discovered what appeared to be a dogfighting ring, Darlington County Chief Deputy Tom Gainey said.
Deputies who responded to the residence inferred that a dogfight had just taken place in the ring because of fresh blood on the ground, sheriff's Lt. George Wilkes, a Darlington County Sheriff's deputy who was on the scene, said.
As a result, deputies arrested Michael Thomas Robinson, 28, of 316 Delta Mill Road, Pamplico, and Erick Simon, 30, who lived at the Brown Road address, Wilkes said.
S.C. Attorney General's Office spokesman Mark Plowden said the office has taken a special interest in cases of this nature. In 2004, S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster established a task force to combat dogfighting in the state.
'This task force consists of law enforcement agencies and the people that work in the (animal) shelters and animal control units and anybody with an interest in combating dogfighting,' Plowden said.
So far, the task force has made 50 arrests resulting in 20 convictions, Plowden said.
About 30 cases still are pending and are in various stages of the prosecution process, Plowden said.
'These 50 cases have included over 300 dogs,' he said. 'We've had busts that have had 40 or 50 dogs involved.'
Because of its success, it's become common for solicitors to turn dogfighting cases over to the attorney general's office, Plowden said.
'We've developed a level of expertise in that area,' he said. 'Solicitors are more than happy to assist us and we're more than happy to take the cases.'
McMaster also is a member of the National Association of Attorneys General's (NAAG) committee on animal cruelty, Plowden said.
The office officially will begin pursuing the Darlington County dogfighting incident once the case file arrives from the 4th Circuit Solicitor's Office, Plowden said.
Case UpdatesTestimony began Wednesday in the trial of two Darlington County men charged with dog fighting.
In 2007, deputies charged Michael Robinson and Wesley Truett with animal fighting and baiting.
The South Carolina Attorney General's Office is prosecuting the case.
Officers say the suspects were involved in a dog fighting operation on Brown Road, outside of Lamar.
Deputies confiscated two Pit Bulls.
The trial is expected to wrap up Thursday. | Source: Carolina Live - May 27, 2009
Update posted on May 28, 2009 - 1:26AM |
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