Dog-fighting - 11 dogs seized
Richmond, VA (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Jun 20, 2009
County: Richmond City
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Richard Edmond Antonio Robinson
» Ardeller Morris - Dismissed
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
Richmond Police have seized 11 dogs from a home on Wright Avenue and charged a mother and son with animal cruelty and dog fighting.
"My brother is a good person and he wasn't involved in any type of dog ring or dog fighting activity or anything like that," says family member Connie Robinson.
Ardeller Morris and her son Richard Robinson are behind bars and charged with animal cruelty.
Morris faces three counts of animal cruelty and one count of promoting or allowing dog fighting.
Robinson is facing more that 13 charges, which include animal cruelty and promoting or engaging in dog fighting.
Robinson's sister is shocked.
"He stopped that a long time ago, being involved in any kind of criminal activity with dogs when he was originally prosecuted for that about three years ago."
Robinson claims the dogs were all in good health and says the family plans to hire a lawyer before heading to court.
"It's my mom and my brother your talking about people, that all they do is mind their business they don't get involved in nobody's else stuff. My mother never been involved in any type of trouble they are going to take my mother and do this to my mom."
Case UpdatesA grand jury indicted a Richmond man yesterday on five felony charges involving dogfighting.
Richard E. Robinson, 32, faces two counts of animal cruelty and one count each of dogfighting, promoting dogfighting and training dogs to fight, authorities said.
Ten of 12 dogs seized in June from the home he shared with his mother on Wright Avenue in South Richmond had to be euthanized, authorities said.
Authorities also found exercise equipment, medical supplies and other evidence of dogfighting at the home.
They found dogs in heavy chains in kennels without water, and some of them were injured, according to testimony last month. Robinson's mother, Ardeller Morris, had faced several related charges, but prosecutors withdrew all of them last month.
Robinson has prior convictions on dogfighting and cruelty charges in Richmond.
His next court date is Oct. 13. | Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch Sep 9, 2009
Update posted on Sep 11, 2009 - 2:00PM |
Ten of the 12 dogs seized in June from a South Richmond home in a dogfighting case had to be put down.
Several of the dogs were overly aggressive, Richmond authorities said yesterday, and one dog had such a bad infection on its face that its skin fell off from scratching. New homes were found for the two survivors.
In addition to the dogs, authorities found exercise equipment, medical supplies and other evidence of dogfighting at the home of Richard E. Robinson, also known as "Lil Richard," and his mother, Ardeller Morris, according to testimony yesterday in Manchester General District Court.
Robinson, 32, referred to his dogs as "Old School Kennel," said Richmond prosecutor Alex Taylor.
A judge yesterday certified to a grand jury one felony count each of dogfighting and animal cruelty against Robinson. Prosecutors withdrew all charges against Morris, 60.
"She's maintained her innocence from the beginning," Morris' attorney, George A. Townsend, said after the hearing.
Robinson, who has prior convictions on dogfighting and cruelty charges in Richmond, also faces a felony dogfighting charge in Halifax County, N.C., authorities there confirmed yesterday. That charge stems from a Nov. 30 incident. A court hearing is set for Oct. 7 in Halifax.
On June 16, authorities searched the Richmond home of Robinson and Morris in the 2100 block of Wright Avenue off Jefferson Davis Highway.
They found dogs in heavy chains in kennels without water, and some of them were injured, according to testimony. Authorities said they discovered syringes scattered about the property, medications, scales, magazines about dogfighting and pedigree information.
According to testimony, authorities found exercise equipment, including a hard, plastic "boomer ball" that dogs are encouraged to chase for exercise; a "spring pole," which can be used to hang dogs from a rope to strengthen their jaw muscles; and a device used to immobilize a dog for breeding.
A Richmond Animal Control employee testified that Robinson visited an animal shelter where the dogs were held after being seized and tried to reclaim them.
Robinson's attorney, Shannon Taylor, said she will file a motion in Richmond Circuit Court to suppress evidence seized in the search of the Wright Avenue property. "The probable cause was woefully inadequate," she said.
Authorities have linked Robinson to a Henrico County man, Tracy Mark Tucker, 39. The two men, according to an affidavit for a search warrant, "were working together to traffic illegal drugs as well as participating in illegal organized dogfighting."
Last month, a search of Tucker's property in the 1400 block of Elmshadow Drive off Osborne Turnpike turned up dogs, exercise equipment and other items, according to a police affidavit. But last week, authorities in Richmond withdrew a dogfighting charge against Tucker. As of July 22, Tucker was being held in federal custody on a firearms-possession charge. Efforts to update his status last night were unsuccessful.
Next month, a grand jury will decide whether to indict Robinson on the dogfighting and cruelty charges.. | Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch - Aug 7, 2009
Update posted on Aug 7, 2009 - 5:53PM |
A Richmond judge today certified today to a grand jury two felony charges against Richard E. Robinson, but prosecutors withdrew all charges against his mother, Ardeller Morris.
The charges against Robinson are one count of dogfighting and one count of animal cruelty. Morris, 60, had faced three counts of animal cruelty and one count of promoting or allowing dogfighting.
In June, authorities seized about a dozen dogs from their home in the 2100 block of Wright Avenue, off Jefferson Davis Highway. | Source: Richmond-Times Dispatch - Aug 6, 2009
Update posted on Aug 6, 2009 - 5:26PM |
Richard Robinson was supposed to have a bond hearing today, but the case was continued until July. He will remain behind bars until then.
The South Richmond man and his mother, Ardeller Morris, were arrested Friday at their home on Wright Avenue. Animal control officers also seized a dozen dogs.
Both mother and son are due back in court on July 30th.
Robinson remains behind bars, Morris is free on bond. | Source: CBS6 - Jun 22, 2009
Update posted on Jun 24, 2009 - 12:36PM |
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