Case Report

Superior Court Judge Timothy Casserly sentenced Dennis Hugh Murty, 33, and his brother, Brian Christopher Murty, 26, to five years probation and one year in jail after each plead guilty to raising pitbull dogs with the intent to have them fight other dogs. A third man, Raymond Baumgartner, 18, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of cultivating marijuana and a misdemeanor charge of being a spectator to a dogfight. Baumgartner's sentence was probation and 20 days of public service, Deputy District Attorney Clay Biddle said.

In May the three men had pleaded guilty, but they withdrew their pleas after Superior Court Judge Richard Mills, who was not involved in the discussions that resulted in the pleas, said he wanted to send the men to prison.

The case was then sent to Casserly, whose responsibilities include assigning cases set for preliminary hearings to other courtrooms.

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