Attorneys/Judges
| Prosecutor(s): | Jodi Spiegel, Cliff Sticher | | Judge(s): | Roger Bradley |
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CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #14140 Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Dog-fighting - 22 dogs seized
Blue Ridge, GA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
County: Fannin
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 1 files available
Defendant/Suspect: Glenn Albert White
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Authorities in Fannin County and animal welfare groups said they busted a major player in the dogfighting world. Al White was behind bars Thursday and his dogs were surrendered to authorities.
Animal control trucks carried away some of the 22 dogs. A forensic team form the SPCA spent Thursday afternoon collecting evidence and treating the 21 pit bulls, and one mixed breed dog they say were chained around the property.
"The dogs are thin, they're being medically evaluated. Friendly to people, not friendly to each other," said Laura Bevin of the Humane Society of the U.S.
The Humane Society, SPCA and local district attorney searched the property after a six month investigation that focused on the 58-year-old White.
"This guy has been around a long time, some of the dogs are well known in the dog fighting world," said Bevin.
White's son denied the charges. "There's nothing going on down there. Guy sells dogs, trying to make a living," said White's son, Anthony.
Investigators said White released all the dogs to animal control. They will be kept there until welfare authorities determine their health.
Authorities said they hoped White's arrest puts a big dent in dogfighting across the southeast.
"He is not a small arrest, he is a major player in this arena," said Bevin.
Authorities said the investigation began with a tip to a hotline that was set up after former Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick was arrested and convicted of dogfighting. The tipster could receive as much as $10,000 in reward money.
Case UpdatesEpworth resident Glen Albert White will serve 10 years in prison followed by another 10 years on probation after entering a negotiated guilty plea to a number of charges including dogfighting, animal cruelty and sexual offenses.
In an appearance before Superior Court Judge Roger Bradley March 5 in Blue Ridge, White entered a guilty plea to charges contained within three separate grand jury indictments.
The charges to which White pleaded guilty were 25 counts of dogfighting, 21 counts of cruelty to animals and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon contained within the first indictment; three counts of child molestation contained within the second indictment; and three counts of child molestation contained within the third indictment.
In exchange for the guilty pleas, White received a total sentence of 10 years to serve in prison followed by 10 years on probation with general special and sex offender conditions, along with a $5,000 fine and $1,850 in restitution, fees and surcharges.
Appalachian Judicial Circuit Assistant District Attorney Jodi Spiegel, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney Cliff Sticher, said White was sentenced as a recidivist, meaning he will not be eligible for parole and must serve the full sentence. Also, as part of the sex offender conditions, White will be required to register as a convicted sex offender for life.
The case against White originally began as a dogfighting investigation, but after those charges were filed and White was jailed, information was provided to the district attorney's office that led to opening an investigation of possible sexual crimes, Spiegel said. Those crimes spanned a period of over seven years with two separate victims, she said.
Spiegel said the case was very involved. During the course of the investigation, approximately 10 witnesses and five agencies were involved in the dogfighting case, while district attorney's investigators interviewed close to 20 witnesses and worked closely with the victims in the child molestation case, she said. | Source: The News Observer - March 13, 2009
Update posted on Mar 14, 2009 - 12:33AM |
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