Dog-fighting - 3 dogs seized
Cottage Hills, IL (US)

Incident Date: Friday, Mar 25, 2005
County: Madison

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Basil Leonard Sitzes, III - Dismissed
» Kimberly A. Columb
» Marcus C. Neal - Convicted
» Jason D. Bland

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

Madison County prosecutors filed felony charges March�30, 2005�against three men accused of having a dog fight in a living room. Sheriff's deputies on Friday night went to the Cottage Hills home of Basil Sitzes, 34, after an anonymous person reported that dogs were fighting there.

"When he answered the door, there was a dog described as a pit bull standing behind him that had several bite marks on it, and those bite marks were bleeding," Lt. John Lakin said.

Also at the home were Jason D. Bland, 31, of South Roxana, and Marcus C. Neal, 33, of Brighton. They both had a dog -- one described as a pit bull terrier and one a patterdale terrier.

"The other two dogs appeared as though they had some bite marks on them that were older bite marks," Lakin said.

Lakin said furniture in the living area of the home had been moved, giving the appearance that it had been set up for dog fighting.

"There were no signs that any money was being waged or anything like that. We may not ever know what the purpose was," Lakin said.

He said it's unclear how the three men became acquainted.

"They're familiar names to us, but if they're involved in anything that's organized, we're not aware of that," Lakin said.

Bail for each defendant was set at $20,000. The charge, dog fighting, carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

The three dogs were seized and are being kept at the county's animal control shelter, Lakin said.

David Hall, administrator of Madison County Animal Control, confirmed that at least one of the animal�s had bleeding gashes on the face "consistent with bite wounds."

Investigators also found pieces of furniture blocking off access points to the living room to form a makeshift arena and an item used to pry a pit bull�s jaws open after they are clamped down on an object.�

Former KKK grand dragon Basil Sitzes Sr.,�father of the arrested Basil Sitzes,�said Thursday that his family loves pit bulls and would never fight them.

"I�ve had them all my life ever since I was a kid," said the 72-year-old man, who lives in a house directly behind his son�s. "There was absolutely no fighting whatsoever. I don�t allow it on my property."

He said the authorities targeted his son because he formerly oversaw KKK operations in Illinois, Missouri and Indiana.

Case Updates

References

• - April 1,
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