Dog Fighting/animal cruelty Carlsbad, NM (US) Incident Date: Friday, Nov 16, 2001 County: Eddy Local Map: available Disposition: Alleged Alleged: » Fiedel Almanza » James L. Olsen » Ricky Almanza

Case ID: 272 Classification: Fighting Animal: dog (pit-bull) View more cases in NM (US) Login to Watch this Case

Two men charged with dog fighting and cruelty to animals were not bound over to District Court on those charges Thursday. One of them was bound over on other charges Friday.

Magistrate Bill Sadler didn't bind over Fiedel Almanza, 21, to District Court because of an identification issue. Deputy District Attorney D'Ann Read wasn't able to conclusively establish that Fiedel Almanza is known as "J.R." Almanza.

"I couldn't resolve the identification issue without using hearsay," Read said.

Sadler also didn't bind over James L. Olsen, 20, to District Court on charges of dog fighting and cruelty to animals on Thursday. Olsen wasn't bound over on these charges because there were some discrepancies about the dates in witnesses' testimony.

One witness was missing from the courtroom on Thursday. Crimson Dumars, 19, had told police that Olsen, J.R. Almanza and her boyfriend Ricky Almanza had fought dogs in a bedroom of her trailer at 101 Hamilton St. on Aug. 30. Carlsbad police Sgt. Earl Jones and Animal Control Officer Justin Estrada reported finding a room covered with blood in the trailer.

Police and court officials are looking for Dumars. Sadler issued a bench warrant for her arrest when she failed to appear to testify at the arraignments. Read said Dumars is in hiding because she doesn't want to testify against her boyfriend, Ricky Almanza.

Ricky Almanza waived arraignment in Magistrate Court last week and was bound over to District Court for trial on charges of dog fighting and cruelty to animals. Sadler bound over Olsen to District Court on Friday on charges of extreme cruelty to animals, tampering with evidence and larceny.

Olsen allegedly stole a red heeler dog named "Princess" from Jerold and Stacy Faine and used it in a fight against two pit bulls, according to court documents. When the two pit bulls were unable to kill Princess, Olsen allegedly beat the Faine's family pet to death and buried her body in a field.

Allegedly the dog fight was a preliminary event, as the men were looking for the best dog for a big fight in December, police said.

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