Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog fighting

Dog fighting
Orangeburg, SC (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Jun 6, 2003
County: Orangeburg
Local Map: available
Disposition: Convicted
Charges: Felony CTA
Case Images: 1 files available

Abusers/Suspects:
» Ricky Hanton
» Donna Hanton - Dismissed

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 1499

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

View more cases in SC (US)

More than 70 pit bulls were seized June 6, when authorities raided an elaborate dog-fighting operation, police say.

Officials called it one of the biggest dog-fighting operations in the state's history.

"It's the biggest one I've ever seen. The most dogs I've ever seized is 30 and 27," said Steve Stephenson, who has been an investigator with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for nine years. "To my knowledge, this would be the biggest one ever in the state."

About $500,000 worth of dog-training equipment was seized, including dog food, treadmills and other items.

Ricky Hanton, 38, has been charged with 10 counts of animal fighting and baiting, authorities said.

Case Updates

June 30, 2004 - An Aiken couple charged with 11 counts each of dog fighting will not face any jail time.

Ricky Hanton pleaded guilty Wednesday to six counts in Orangeburg County Court. In exchange for the plea agreement, charges were dropped against his wife, Donna Hanton.

Ricky Hanton pleaded guilty to five counts of animal fighting and baiting. He also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dog fighting materials after being charged with possession of steroids thought to be used for the dogs.

Hanton was given a five-year sentence suspended upon four years of probation plus a $2500 fine. If Hanton doesn't pay in two years, he will end up in jail.

Update posted on Jun 30, 2004 - 2:12PM

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The trial of an Orangeburg County couple charged in connection with an alleged dog-fighting ring might get underway this week.

Pre-trials motions were being ironed out Monday in the case involving Ricky Hanton, 38, and Donna Hanton, 36, both of 257 Yvette Road, Orangeburg. Each was arrested in June 2003 and charged with illegal fighting and baiting of animals.

Prospective jurors were instructed to return to court on Tuesday.
TheTandD.com Read More:Update posted on Jun 29, 2004 - 6:25AM

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Nearly a year after a dramatic police raid, six of a host of Orangeburg fighting dogs are still alive.

Two Orangeburg County residents, Ricky Hanton, 39, and Donna Hanton, 37, both of 257 Yvette Road, Orangeburg, were arrested in June 2003 when 72 dogs were discovered at a large compound in northern Orangeburg County.

Ricky Hanton was later released on a $100,000 surety bond, while his wife Donna Hanton was released after meeting a $75,000 surety bond.

The S.C. Attorney General's Office has taken over cases against the Hantons after dozens of dogs were seized during a raid on what police called the biggest illegal dog-fighting operation in the state.

"Both of them are under 11 indictments for animal fighting," said Mark Plowden, spokesman for the Attorney General's office. "I think there may be other charges by other offices, but we're prosecuting these 11 indictments."

No court date has been set for the Hantons, who could be facing five years and a $5,000 fine for each charge.

TheTandD.com Update posted on May 20, 2004 - 6:42PM

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Dog fightingOrangeburg, SC (US)

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Dog fighting
Orangeburg, SC (US)