Dog-fighting - 12 dogs seized - Hampton, VA

Saturday, Apr 17, 2004

County: Hampton City

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Paul Jeffrey Holland
» Ricardo Moton
» Patricia Clements

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

A drug bust in Hampton has uncovered what police believe may be a dog fighting ring. Police searched a home on 100 block of Fairmont Drive on Saturday and arrested three people.

Ricardo Jose Moton and Patricia Laverne Clements were arrested on drug charges.

Paul Jeffrey Holland faces drugs, firearms, and counterfeit money charges from the weekend raid - and on Wednesday, officers added dog fighting to his list of charges.

Police state that in addition to the drugs, firearms and counterfeit money seized from the residence, officers also found 12 dogs - five adults and seven puppies - and equipment consistent with training dogs for fighting.

Animal control authorities stated that two of the adult dogs exhibited scars on their necks and faces and wounds to their front legs. Police are continuing their investigation, and say additional charges are pending against Holland.

Hampton police narcotics detectives went to the two-story house on Fairmont Drive based on a tip that Holland and another man were operating a drug ring out of the house. The officers summoned the SPCA after they found adult dogs chained up in the back yard and the puppies in the garage.

Animal control officers seized the dogs along with bloodstained treadmills, a fighting pen, and an array of surgical supplies, including sutures, antibiotics, catheters and scalpels. The list also included an artificial insemination kit.

"There are lot more surgical supplies here than you would expect from any normal dog breeder," Troy said.

Case Updates

According to court records, Paul Jeffrey Holland pled guilty to one felony count of possession of cocaine and one felony count of dog-fighting on July 23, 2004 in Hampton Circuit Court. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, all of which was suspended except for two years. On December 8, 2006, a probation violation was filed. The violation does not appear to be animal-related. The 13-year prison sentence was reinstated, twelve of which were suspended. The defendant was reinstated to probation for 15 years.

Source: Case #'s CR04A00670-00 & 01 Update posted on Apr 29, 2007 - 7:17PM

Holland, 33, remains in the city jail without bond. A preliminary hearing on the dog fighting charge and nine drug charges is scheduled for June 17.

Update posted on Apr 30, 2004 - 3:00PM

References

• WAVY-TV
• The Daily Press - April 30, 2004
• The Daily Press - May 18, 2004

« Back to Search Results
« VA State Animal Cruelty Map
« More cases in Hampton City County, VA

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.