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Case #5499 Rating: 2.9 out of 5
Dog-fighting - 17 dogs seized
Cottonwood, AL (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005
County: Houston
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Johnny Ray Lewis
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Police seized 17 pit bulls along with a large amount of dog fighting paraphernalia, veterinary medicines, and a graphic videotape of dog fights. The video contained images of two bloodied, screaming pitbulls tearing each other apart.
"We were very surprised at the sophistication of this training," said Jim Smith, chief of police in Cottonwood. "This guy had an agricultural spray tank about 5 feet deep and 8 feet across full of water so the dogs could swim and increase their endurance."
Johnnie Ray Lewis, 40, was arrested Aug 31, 2005 after police in Cottonwood found what they describe as a boot camp for dog fighting.
The incident is the second time in a week that an individual in the Wiregrass has been arrested on dog fighting charges.��Ozark police arrested a man for animal cruelty after authorities discovered 14 pit bulls which had been used in a dog fighting operation.
Smith said police have been investigating for several months after they received complaints about dog fighting taking place at the home, some as recent as last week.
Police served a search warrant on Aug 31 and entered the home.
Once inside they discovered heavy logging chains, collars and detailed written records tracking each dog's progress and training techniques. The set-up was so elaborate that there was even a heated swimming pool complete with chlorinated water where the dogs could swim.
"We found a good deal of handwritten information that basically detailed how to feed and train the dogs to fight,"Smith said. "It even had drawings of devices to increase their muscle strength and feeding regimen."
One of those devices was a collapsible pole designed for the dogs to bite and hang by their teeth to increase bite strength.
Smith said the dogs were living inside 55 gallon drums attached to heavy chains.
The fenced-in back yard also contained tethers hooked to trees and the above ground swimming tank.
"This is something none of us had ever seen before,"Smith said. "It was even unique to some of the experts we talked to that have been helping us with this."
Smith said so far they haven't found any evidence that the dogs found at the house had been fighting. Most of the animals were only three to six weeks old.
"This particular batch was being trained,"Smith said.
Smith said Lewis was at home at the time of the raid and that he is not cooperating with authorities.
"He is denying the allegations,"Smith said.
Dog fighting is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Lewis was released from the Houston County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Smith said additional arrests may be forthcoming as the investigation broadens.
The dogs have been placed in the Dothan animal shelter.
Animal control officer Renee Skipper said the dogs are in good shape.
Depending on what the court decides, they have a group they are working with who may be able to place them in homes.
"If the courts do turn the animals over to us, we are working with rescue groups who work with pit bulls and they will work to rehabilitate them, "Skipper said.
Case UpdatesA judge sentenced 42-year-old Johnny Ray Lewis this morning to serve 102 years in prison on dog fighting-related charges a jury convicted him of last month.
Houston County Circuit Court Judge Ed Jackson sentenced Lewis to six years in prison for each of the 17 dogs police seized as part of the dog fighting case filed against him. A jury convicted Lewis on Sept. 27, on 17 felonies for possessing dogs with the intent to train them for fighting. He faced a possible sentence of a year and a day up to 10 years per charge.
Jackson said he sentenced Lewis to what he called a "mid-range" sentence.
"It is a type of case that is sensitive to the public," Jackson said as he announced the sentence.
Derek Yarbrough, Lewis' lawyer, told the court his client planned to the appeal the case. Jackson set an appeal bond of $85,000, at $5,000 per charge in the case. | Source: Dothan Eagle - Nov 13, 2007
Update posted on Nov 13, 2007 - 5:41PM |
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