Dog-fighting - Woodland Park, CO

Wednesday, Sep 21, 2005

County: Teller

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 2 files available

Defendants/Suspects:
» Giselle Siebert Sokoloff
» Damon P. Bienvenu

Case Updates: 3 update(s) available

Giselle Siebert Sokoloff, aka "Jess", was arrested by Teller County Sheriff's deputies on Sept 21, 2005. Sokoloff was charged with killing animals in contest, harassment, and obstructing a criminal investigation. Sokoloff reportedly runs ATH-FAR, an animal rescue business. She posted a surety bond of $50,000.

Sheriff Kevin Dougherty said Sokoloff was arrested at her home at 5240 Painted Rocks Road. She was reportedly the only one home at the time.

He said "The evidence points to the fact that Sokoloff was involved with animal fighting, dog-fighting."

The dogs remain on the property.

"We are monitoring the situation," Dougherty said.

An affidavit says Sokoloff's boyfriend is wanted in Louisiana on a charge of dogfighting.

Case Updates

A well-known Teller County animal shelter operator accused of putting her pit bull in a fight has pleaded guilty to felony animal fighting. Giselle Jess Sokoloff, who ran ATHFAR Kennels and Dog Rescue in northern Teller County, was scheduled to stand trial this month on charges of animal fighting, obstructing a peace officer and harassment. Instead, she struck a plea agreement in May with the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office in which she pleaded guilty to animal fighting. The other charges were dropped. Sokoloff received a three-year deferred sentence during which she may not run a kennel or keep animals for commercial purposes. She also must complete 12 anger management classes and 200 hours of community service, not in any animal-related field. Sokoloff could not be reached for comment, but assessor's records show she now owns 35 acres in the eastern El Paso County community of Yoder. The plea agreement also allows animal control officers to inspect Sokoloff's property regularly.

Source: gazette.com - Jun 6, 2006 Update posted on Sep 11, 2011 - 10:15AM

According to court records, Giselle "Jess" Sokoloff pleaded guilty to a Class 5 felony animal fighting charge on May 15, 2006. She was sentenced to three years probation, during which time she is "not to keep animals for any commercial purposes, including running a kennel, training dogs, or doing rescue, whether for profit or as a volunteer". Damon Bienvenu pleaded guilty to a Class 6 felony animal fighting charge. He was sentenced to two years prison to be followed by one year of parole. He was also ordered to pay fines and court costs. Bienvenu is currently serving his sentence in the Colorado Corrections Center at Camp George West. His two warrants out of Lafayette, Louisiana remain outstanding.

Source: Teller County Court Case #'s 06CR81 and 05CR166 Update posted on Aug 10, 2007 - 5:57PM

Sokoloff, who runs ATHFAR Kennels and Dog Rescue, located until recently on Painted Rocks Road in northern Teller County, denied the allegations. "We've never fought a dog," Sokoloff said Friday. Teller County Sheriff Kevin Dougherty said the investigation began when a veterinarian reported the death of a pit bull Sokoloff brought in, which the veterinarian believed died from injuries suffered in dogfighting. Sokoloff was cited on suspicion of animal cruelty, a misdemeanor, Sept. 6. According to a Sheriff's Office affidavit, a county animal control officer on Sept. 21 received a threatening e-mail from Sokoloff that also indicated there were two upcoming dogfights. Sokoloff's problems with the Sheriff's Office go back several months. Court records show she has been cited six times this year on suspicion of a dog barking and once for having a dog at large. On one occasion in August, she accused deputies of trespassing and threatened to "release the dogs," according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, she admitted being involved in organized dogfighting and planned to act as a "medic" at upcoming fights. "No offense, but I can take the pay for being a medic and buy an attorney to fight you," she told deputies, according to the affidavit. Her live-in boyfriend, Damon Bienvenu, 27, is wanted in Louisiana on a charge of dogfighting, the affidavit states. Dougherty said there is no evidence Sokoloff ran a dog- fighting event, and the other 40 to 60 dogs at the kennel and sanctuary were well-cared for. Sokoloff said she has since moved out of Teller County, though she declined to say where. She has been running a sanctuary since 1992, she said, and has worked against dogfighting. The dogs come from a "variety of sources," she said, declining to elaborate. She said only a few of the dogs are pit bulls. The 10-month-old pit bull that died was her boyfriend's pet and not a rescued dog, she said. She said it was attacked by another dog at the sanctuary, and she did not believe its injuries to be severe. When they brought the dog to a veterinarian five days later, he performed surgery and then told her in the middle of the operation the dog should be euthanized, she said. "We didn't cause the dog's death. The veterinarian, he felt like he couldn't do the dog's surgery," she said. She declined to discuss the specific allegations of the Sheriff's Office, saying she was unable to reach her attorney. But she said the charges are the result of the dispute with the Sheriff's Office. "We've got a long, long history of dog rescue and animal shelter," she said. "My reputation speaks for itself, and I think we will prevail." Officials at the Teller County Regional Animal Shelter were not aware of any previous problem with Sokoloff's dogs. Sokoloff is free on $50,000 bail. She could face up to 3� years in prison and $100,000 in fines if convicted in both cases.

Source: Gazette.Com - Oct 22, 2005 Update posted on Oct 24, 2005 - 3:05PM

References

• The Mountain Jackpot - Oct 4, 2005 « CO State Animal Cruelty Map
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