Chesapeake police say a man running an illegal dogfighting ring is now behind bars. Danny Myers has been in jail for more than two weeks, and is facing several charges including dogfighting, conspiracy and firearms.
A search warrant obtained by 10 On Your Side, states that when officers went to Myers' house on Bells Mill Road back on September 24th, they found 51 VHS tapes, 75 CD's and DVD's, and 13 computer diskettes... all believed to contain evidence of illegal dog fighting activity.
Police also took eight dogs.
Myers, charged with illegal dog fighting, says, "I want my dogs back. I want them to stop messing with me. I haven't been messing with anyone. I don't fight the dogs."
Myers says the charges against him were instigated by an overzealous animal control officer. He's due in court to answer to the charges on November 10th.� Both Danny and his wife Jennifer have been charged.
Danny Myers is charged with:
Conspiracy to commit a felony
Possession of a firearm by a 2-time convicted felon
Organized Dog Fighting
According to court documents:
--authorities removed 11 pit bull dogs from their home on Bells Mill Road.
--one dog had severe, open wounds to its head, face, legs and tail.
--other dogs had scarring "consistent with illegal dog fighting." Case UpdatesDanny L. Myers faces as much as 10 years in prison after entering an Alford plea Tuesday to charges of organized dog fighting and conspiracy. Danny Myers, a resident of the 1000 block of Bells Mill Road, is expected to be sentenced May 31. Myers� Alford plea means he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.
Myers and his wife, Jennifer, appeared Tuesday in Chesapeake Circuit Court before Judge Russell I. Townsend Jr.
Jennifer Myers, 26, however, pleaded not guilty to similar charges. Her bench trial, which started Tuesday, is expected to continue today.
Danny Myers, who is being held in the Chesapeake City Jail, entered a plea agreement with prosecutors. In exchange for his plea, a firearms charge against him was withdrawn.
Assistant Commonwealth�s Attorney Amy James said it could be shown that Danny Myers operated Mill House Kennel, where numerous dogs were being raised for illegal dog fighting. Prosecutors also had evidence associated with dog fighting, such as bite sticks, medical supplies, a spring pole, and books about dog fighting.
Danny Myers faces five- year maximum sentences on each of the Class 6 felonies.
A witness for the commonwealth, M. A. Hazlitt, a former animal control officer, testified that she found a number of pit bulls scarred and in poor health when she was dispatched to the Myerses� home in September. The dogs, with names such as Redlight, Gray Goose and Jada, were being kept behind the Myerses� home.
Hazlitt removed about seven dogs and five 3-week old puppies and returned the next day with a search warrant.
The commonwealth also called Mark P. Kumpf, supervisor at Newport News Animal Services and an expert on dog fighting who teaches nationally and internationally on the subject.
After reviewing documents, pictures, chains, training tools, books and journals, Kumpf concluded that much of the evidence was associated with dog fighting. The dogs suffered wounds to the neck, face and forelimbs.
�These injuries are consistent with animals which have fought and continually fought,� said Kumpf, the prosecution�s last witness.
Deputy Public Defender James L. Grandfield is expected to present the defense�s case for Jennifer Myers today. | Source: The Virginia Pilot - March 30, 3005
Update posted on Mar 30, 2005 - 2:24PM |
A grand jury has indicted Danny Myers this week on charges of organized dog fighting, conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Myers, a resident of the 1000 block of Bells Mill Road, was an owner of Mill House Kennel, where pit bulls and German shepherds were kept, according to testimony.
Myers was convicted and fined earlier this month in General District Court on various charges, including failing to license the dogs, and failing to provide veterinary care or rabies shots. More serious charges were sent to the grand jury. | Source: The Virginian-Pilot - Dec 11, 2004
Update posted on Dec 12, 2004 - 7:58AM |
Danny Myers was convicted on charges including failing to license dogs, to provide veterinary care and depriving a dog of emergency treatment. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, put on two years probation and barred from owning an animal for the next two years.
The judge also ruled Wednesday that there's enough evidence to send felony dogfighting charges against Myers to a grand jury. If indicted, Myers could face trial on charges of promoting organized dogfighting, conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon. | Source: WVEC - Dec 2,2004
Update posted on Dec 3, 2004 - 6:28AM |
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