Dog-fighting, neglect - 3 dogs seized - Newport News, VA

Monday, Feb 4, 2008

County: Newport News City

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted

Defendant/Suspect: Marlon Edmond Carter

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Animal control officers are investigating possible dogfighting charges at a Newport News home where three emaciated dogs were discovered Monday.

Officers happened to be in the neighborhood of Hilton Boulevard near Madison Avenue when they heard the dogs barking and found them in a backyard, said city spokeswoman Kim Lee.

"Their ribs were very visible," Lee said. "Their backbones were jutting out under the skin."

One of the dogs had severe scarring on its muzzle and in its ear.

The dogs were taken to a veterinary hospital, where they remain. Veterinarians have not said whether they think the dogs will recover, Lee said.

Officers took out a search warrant to look for dogfighting paraphernalia in the home where the dogs were found.

Officers are still cataloging the items they removed, Lee said, but they include magazines and material downloaded from the Internet related to dogfighting.

Criminal charges are possible, she said.

No one was home when the dogs were found, but officers have been in contact with the dogs' owner, Marlon Carter, who court records show was convicted of animal cruelty in a 2006 incident.

Case Updates

According to court records, Marlon Carter pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty on September 24, 2008. He was given a 12-month suspended sentence, one year probation, and a $1,000 fine per count. Court records indicate that he is currently delinquent on his payments.

Source: Newport News District Court Update posted on Mar 24, 2010 - 6:00PM

A Newport News man who became the subject of a dogfighting probe when three emaciated dogs were discovered at his home has been charged with animal cruelty. City spokeswoman Kim Lee said arrest warrants were served on Marlon Carter at his Hampton home on Feb. 25. He has been charged with three counts of animal cruelty. The Class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison or a fine of $2,500 per offense. Last month, animal patrol officers visited another of Carter's residences on Hilton Boulevard near Madison Avenue when they heard the dogs barking and found them in a backyard. "Their ribs were very visible," Lee said. "Their backbones were jutting out under the skin." Officers took out a search warrant to look for dogfighting paraphernalia , Lee said. They discovered magazines and material downloaded from the Internet related to dogfighting. In an affidavit obtained by animal patrol officers to search Carter's Hampton home in Raymond Drive, officers said the wounds on the dogs found in the Newport News property were "consistent with dogfighting." Initially veterinarians were not sure if the dogs would recover. Lee said they survived and are with the SPCA but have not been put up for adoption because of an outstanding animal custody dispute between Carter and Newport News. Carter was arrested on animal cruelty charges in 2006. The charges were reduced on the condition he pay $765 in restitution to Animal Services, which he did not. He received a further fine on Feb. 27 and was barred from keeping companion animals for at least five years.

Source: Daily Press - March 6, 2008 Update posted on Mar 9, 2008 - 12:39PM

A man arrested this week on animal cruelty charges appeared in court Wednesday in connection with similar charges from two years ago. Earlier this week, police arrested 32-year-old Marlon Carter with three counts of animal cruelty for three pitbulls found starving to death earlier this month on Hilton Blvd. in Newport News. Two years ago, police arrested him on animal cruelty charges involving four pitbulls. His charges were reduced on the condition that he pay $765 in restitution to Animal Services, which he did not. The three pitbulls seized this week were reportedly skin and bones and in poor health. The judge told Carter he could still picture one of the dogs in his mind and did not see how the animal could stand up. The judge said all he saw was a big head and bones, and said he thought Carter should have learned something from his arrest two years ago when he allegedly left four dogs chained outside during a hurricane with no food or shelter. Wednesday, the judge issued another fine and set Friday as the deadline for Carter to make good on the money he owes the City. Carter said in his heart, he did not think he should have to pay because of the accidental death of his dogs. The judge barred Carter from keeping companion animals for at least five years. He still has to go to court on the new animal cruelty charges, and authorities are working to determine if he might also be involved in dog fighting.

Source: WVEC - Feb 27, 2008 Update posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 9:17PM

References

• « VA State Animal Cruelty Map
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