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Case #13264 Rating: 2.6 out of 5
Dog-fighting - 11 dogs seized
New Hope, OH (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Feb 28, 2008
County: Preble
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Joseph Jenkins
Case Updates: 2 update(s) available
Eleven pit bulldogs were confiscated Thursday, Feb. 28, in a raid on a home in Preble County, investigators said Friday, Feb. 29.
The dogs were taken from the backyard of a home, in the New Hope area northeast of Eaton, during the raid conducted by Dayton police and the Preble County Sheriff's Office.
"This is a hot area for dogfighting," said Dean Vickers, Ohio director for the U.S. Humane Society.
The dogs were taken to the Montgomery County Resource Center, on Webster Street in Dayton. Officials said medical examinations of the dogs revealed injuries but none of the animals would have to be put down.
"There was some scarring which would be indicative of dogfighting," Vickers said.
According to information on cards attached to the cages of the confiscated animals at the center, some of the dogs came in vomiting blood and foaming at the mouth.
Officials did not characterize or specify the scope of the operation they are investigating.
An anonymous tip to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann's anti-dogfighting hot line several months ago led investigators to the house in Eaton, Vickers said.
Dayton police and deputies from Preble and Allen counties conducted undercover and surveillance on the property for several weeks.
Dayton Lt. Patrick Welsh said investigators raided the house about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. No charges have been filed.
Vickers said there is one suspect being investigated for felony charges stemming from the raid, and the Preble County Sheriff's Office could file charges within the next three weeks.
Case UpdatesLast week, Joseph Jenkins was sentenced by the Preble County Court of Common Pleas on one count of "attempt" as it relates to the crime of "dogfighting," a felony of the fifth degree carrying a maximum possible sentence of one year in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Jenkins appeared in court on Friday, Oct. 16, with his attorney, Matthew Barbado of the law firm Rion and Rion, Dayton. Jenkins received a sentence of three years of community control. He was ordered to serve 60 days in the custody of the Preble County Sheriff as a special sanction of community control, with the entire sentence suspended on the condition that the defendant perform 200 hours of community service work.
The defendant was fined $1,000.
According to Preble County Prosecuting Attorney Marty Votel, the State had requested that as a special term of community control, the defendant be forbidden to own or possess companion animals, that any of the defendant's dogs currently impounded be forfeited to the state of Ohio, and that any community service hours be performed in furtherance of animal justice.
Those requests were denied by the court, Votel said.
On Feb. 26, 2008, officers from the Preble County Sheriff's Office and Montgomery County Animal Resource Center executed a search warrant at the home of Jenkins, located at 3737 Upshur-Northern Road, Eaton, in search of illegal dogfighting and/or evidence of the breeding, training, or selling of dogs for the purpose of illegal dogfighting.
Among other items, officers seized 11 pit bull dogs, veterinary supplies, training information, and breeding pedigree documents. Authorities also linked the defendant to a website for "Drive or Die Kennels," a website offering American Pit Bull Terriers sale, and espousing their fighting pedigree and vigor.
After receiving testimony, evidence, and argument, the court took the matter under advisement. A written ruling was handed down on Aug. 20 of this year acquitting the defendant of the indicted charge of dogfighting, a felony of the fourth degree, but finding the defendant guilty of attempted dogfighting.
"Dogfighting is an inhumane, vicious, and indefensible practice. Dogs who are born into the world of dogfighting, whether they are actively fought or not, are fated to lives of desperation and cruelty," Votel said after the ruling.
"People who engage in any part of this cruelty, whether it be breeding, training, or bartering fighting animals, will be held to answer. That is the only way this practice can be effectively eradicated from our community." | Source: registerherald.com - Oct 21, 2009
Update posted on Oct 26, 2009 - 8:51PM |
The owner of 11 pit bull dogs seized in a raid Thursday from a Preble County home is a drug and alcohol counselor for Montgomery County's health department, a health department official confirmed.
But Bill Wharton, spokesman for Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, declined to elaborate on the counselor or the case Saturday, March 1.
"It's the early stages of the investigation," Wharton said. "We're going to have to wait and see what comes out."
The dogs were taken from the backyard of a home in the New Hope area northeast of Eaton during the raid conducted by Dayton police and the Preble County Sheriff's Office.
"This is a hot area for dogfighting," said Dean Vickers, Ohio director for the U.S. Humane Society.
The dogs were taken to the Montgomery County Resource Center on Webster Street in Dayton. Officials said medical examinations of the dogs revealed injuries but none of the animals would have to be put down.
"There was some scarring, which would be indicative of dogfighting," Vickers said.
According to information on cards attached to the cages of the confiscated animals at the center, some of the dogs came in vomiting blood and foaming at the mouth.
Officials did not characterize or specify the scope of the operation they are investigating.
An anonymous tip to Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann's anti-dogfighting hot line several months ago led investigators to the house in Eaton, Vickers said.
Dayton police and deputies from Preble and Allen counties conducted undercover and surveillance on the property for several weeks.
Dayton Lt. Patrick Welsh said investigators raided the house about 3:30 p.m. Thursday. No charges have been filed, but authorities said federal charges could be filed in the next three weeks. | Source: Dayton Daily News - March 1, 2008
Update posted on Mar 2, 2008 - 7:42PM |
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