Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting - 21 arrested, 12 dogs seized

Dog-fighting - 21 arrested, 12 dogs seized
Sunset, LA (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Apr 17, 2005
County: Saint Landry
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Felony CTA
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged:
» Caleb Duhon
» Lovelace J. Green, Jr.
» Ray Picard
» Lanny Bourque
» Brian Darbonne
» Joseph G. Spraggins
» Jose Gonzalez
» William P. Glands
» Chris J. Chesne
» Duane Hector
» Albert Decuir, Jr.
» Bryant Curley
» Michael A. Etienne
» Wendell Keith Moten
» Melvin J. Ballard
» Darrell D. Prejean
» David Braun
» Nathan Scott Etienne
» Fred Damien Johnson
» Casey Doyle
» John S. Guidry

Case Updates: 4 update(s) available

Case ID: 4400

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

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State police raided a suspected dog fighting operation on April 16, 2005 in Saint Landry Parish. They arrested 19 adults, two juveniles and seized 12 pit bulls. Agents had done undercover work to determine the time and place of last night's slate of dog fights and converged on the site while a dog fight was in progress.�

If convicted, they could face a fine of $1,000 to $25,000 or a jail sentence of one to 10 years, or both.

The two dogs fighting when police arrived were in bad shape, State police spokesman Trooper Willie Williams said, with one "bleeding profusely" from the mouth. Police confiscated another 10 pit bulls from suspects vehicles at the scene. St. Landry Parish Animal Control took the animals early Sunday (April 17) morning.

Authorities said people had paid 50 dollars to get into the building where the dogs were placed in a ring against one another.

Williams said some of the suspects may also be charged with drug possession or illegal gun possession. Police found some guns at the scene, though no shots were fired during the raid.

Case Updates

Prosecutors have filed formal charges against 16 people arrested in the April raid of a dog fight near Sunset -- a rare case in which police allegedly caught the secretive activity in progress, the St. Landry Parish District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

"We've never had a dog-fighting case where we have actually caught them fighting," District Attorney Earl Taylor said.

In the April 17 raid of the alleged dogfight in a metal shed on Henry Road near Sunset, State Police arrested 17 adults and two juveniles, including the man who prosecutors said owned the property, John Guidry, 49, of Sunset.

Police arrested five more people the next day when they came to reclaim vehicles that agents seized in the raid.

The formal charges announced Thursday named 16 individuals -- seven, including Guidry, on felony charges of training fighting dogs or helping organize a fight and nine on misdemeanor charges of attending a dog fight.

The felony charges carry a possible sentence of one to 10 years in prison; the misdemeanors, up to six months.

Taylor said the investigation is continuing against the others arrested, and more charges might be filed.

Source: The Advocate - Sept 9, 2005
Update posted on Apr 30, 2007 - 1:13AM

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The Sunset dog fighting prosecution is moving through the legal system. St. Landry Parish District Attorney Earl Taylor has the case under review.

"We received the investigation from state police and have opened the process for review. There is a screening process after which we will determine what action might be warranted in connection with prosecution. There are multiple defendants and we have to review the entire investigation," assistant Frank Trosclair Jr. said.

On April 17, Louisiana State Police Troop I arrested 19 people in a pre-dawn raid on a blood-stained dog pit near Sunset. According to Louisiana State Police Troop I Trooper Willie Williams, it was the first time in St. Landry Parish history that police successfully raided a dog fight in progress. Two of those arrested were juveniles. Both fighting dog owners and spectators were arrested. Troopers also seized 19 vehicles and 12 pit bulls.

All 12 animals had to be euthanized.

Undercover agents with the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations-Casino Gaming Section were brought into the case because of the illegal gambling involved with dog fights. They investigated dog fighting in St. Landry Parish and found the time and location of a dog fight. The agents went to a location on Henry Road, just off of Chretian Point Road, south of Sunset. When they arrived, a fight was in progress.

"This is an industry, an illegal gambling operation that is really hard to get a handle on," Williams said at the time. "Anyone can set up a pit, have a fight and be gone. Last night was the first time in history that suspects were caught in a dog fight as agents got to the scene. We are learning, and it does not take us much time to get up to speed."

Those charged could face from six months to 10 years in prison and fines ranging from $500 to $25,000, Williams said then, but ultimately the D.A.'s office will decide if and how to prosecute the case.

Source: KATC - Sept 9, 2005
Update posted on Apr 30, 2007 - 1:08AM

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The animals seized from a dog-fighting event early Sunday morning were placed into the custody of the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. On Tuesday, all twelve of the dogs were euthanized.

SPCA spokesperson Laura Maloney told Eyewitness News that given the dogs' training and genetic breeding, that the dogs were bred to be very aggressive and could not be rehabilitated.

Source: KLFY - April 20, 2005
Update posted on Apr 21, 2005 - 8:03AM

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Another five people were arrested Monday in connection with a St. Landry Parish dog fighting operation near Sunset.

According to Louisiana State Police, the five were arrested after coming forward to claim their vehicles, which were left at the scene.

"People were running in the woods, but we towed their vehicles so they will have to come back," said state Trooper Willie Williams.

Arrested Monday and charged with dog fighting were: Caleb Duhon, 27, of Scott; Lovelace Green, 22, of Abbeville; Ray Picard, 29, of Carencro; Lanny Bourque, 28, of Cankton; and Brian Darbonne, 24, Basile.

Source: The Daily World - April 19, 2005
Update posted on Apr 20, 2005 - 6:51PM

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References

	KATC-3 - April 17, 2005
	The Daily Comet - April 17, 2005
	KLFY - April 17, 2005
	The Daily Advertiser - April 17, 2005
	Opelousas Daily World - April 18, 2005
	2theadvocate.Com
	The Sun Herald - April 18, 2005
	KPLC - April 18, 2005
	The Daily Advertiser - April 18, 2005
	2theadvocate.com
	PETA Action Alerts
	The Daily World - April 22, 2005

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Dog-fighting - 21 arrested, 12 dogs seizedSunset, LA (US)

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Dog-fighting - 21 arrested, 12 dogs seized
Sunset, LA (US)