Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seized

Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seized
Columbus, OH (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Feb 28, 2006
County: Franklin
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Charges: Misdemeanor
Case Images: 5 files available

Alleged:
» Timothy Elkins - Convicted
» Crystal Elkins - Dismissed
» Claude D. Adams
» Bertha Adams - Dismissed

Upcoming Court Dates:
» Friday, Oct 26, 2007: sentencing hearing

Case Updates: 6 update(s) available

Case ID: 7539

Classification: Fighting

Animal: dog (pit-bull)

View more cases in OH (US)

Franklin County Sheriff's deputies searched four homes recently and found more than 24 pit bulls. The dogs were fighting each other while deputies took photographs as evidence.

A tip from the community led officials to a home on South Fifth Street, where deputies allegedly found 26 wounded dogs confined in wooden crates.

"These dogs were kept in these things with no windows," said Chief Deputy Steve Martin, of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators arrested 38-year-old Timothy Elkins and charged him with dog fighting.

"It is still a phenomenon to me that people enjoy watching these animals suffer like this. It's just so brutal," Martin said.

Investigators said Elkins has been accused of dog fighting before.

"Timothy Elkins has been convicted of dog fighting in the past, back in 2002, and they continue to do this," Martin said.

Elkins' brother, Todd, and sister, Tiffany, were arrested on unrelated charges.

The county is trying to nurse the dogs back to health, while deputies work on the criminal case against Elkins.

Case Updates

Two-time convicted animal abuser Timothy Elkins will appear in court for sentencing on October 26 at 10:00 a.m. at the Franklin County, OH courthouse.

Elkins was found guilty on two of six animal cruelty charges in July. More than three years ago, Timothy Elkins was convicted of dog-fighting and was prohibited from owning animals. That's when authorities believe he began moving his dogs to various family members' homes. Charges initially filed against Elkins' wife Crystal, and his grandmother, Bertha Adams have been dismissed.

Source: Docket # 2006-ERB-072672
Update posted on Oct 7, 2007 - 8:20PM

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A convicted dog fighter stood in front of a judge again on Friday. This time he is accused of neglecting two dozen pit bills.

Tim Elkins was charged with cruelty to animals. Elkins, a convicted dog fighter, allegedly kept 26 pit pulls confined to crates inside of his home.

Elkins was found guilty on two of six animal cruelty charges.

In court, a former chief veterinarian of the Columbus Humane Society claimed that many of the pit pulls suffered from ear and eye infections. She said that some of the dogs were also malnourished.

Officials said that four of the dogs were in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized.

"One of the dogs' jaws appeared to be broken; it was just hanging there and there were teeth on the ground," said Chief Deputy Steve Martin of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office.

Elkins waived his right to a jury trial and a judge made the ruling. The matter has been referred to the probation department for a pre-sentence investigation, and Elkins is scheduled to be sentenced on September 7.

More than three years ago, Timothy Elkins was convicted of dog-fighting and was prohibited from owning animals. That's when authorities believe he began moving his dogs to various family members' homes.

Charges against Elkins' wife Crystal, and is grandmother, Bertha Adams have been dismissed.

A trial date has yet to be set on Elkins' uncle Claude Adams.

Source: WCMH TV - Jul 14, 2007
Update posted on Jul 16, 2007 - 12:21PM

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A man who once pleaded guilty to dog fighting is back in the courtroom. Timothy Elkins was arrested in 2002 for dog fighting, now he is standing trial on animal cruelty charges.

Elkins received two years probation for his 2002 plea, but may face up to 18 months in jail if convicted of the current charges.

While executing search warrants last year at Elkins� home and the homes of three relatives, the Franklin County Sheriff�s Office found more than 2 dozen dogs confined in crates.

Humane Agents said that the animals were kept in filthy cages with no access to food or water and had scars from fighting.

The warrants were issued after a tipster alerted detectives to the alleged animal abuse.

Source: NBC - June 29, 2007
Update posted on Jun 29, 2007 - 6:07PM

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Several relatives of previously convicted dog-fighter Timothy Elkins are facing misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Elkins was convicted of two counts of felony dog-fighting on January 26, 2004 (case # 02CR001754), stemming from his arrest on February 22, 2002. He avoided state prison, but served time in county jail and was placed on probation. Elkins was prohibited from owning animals as part of his probation, and authorities believe he began moving his dogs to properties owned by various family members.

Timothy Elkins, along with wife Crystal Elkins, uncle Claude Adams, and grandmother Bertha Adams, face misdemeanor animal cruelty charges resulting from the March 2006 raid on four properties, where more than 24 pit bulls were found. Although some of the dogs were reportedly still fighting when deputies arrived, the Elkins� currently only face misdemeanor charges. Elkins' brother, Todd, and sister, Tiffany, were arrested on unrelated charges.

"These dogs were kept in these things with no windows," said Chief Deputy Steve Martin, of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. "It is still a phenomenon to me that people enjoy watching these animals suffer like this. It's just so brutal."

In addition to animal cruelty, Timothy Elkins faces charges of forgery, stalking and intimidation of witnesses in other matters. Trial is set to begin May 14, 2007 on the animal cruelty charges.

Source: Case # 2006-ERB-072672
Update posted on Feb 11, 2007 - 11:40PM

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The trial for alleged dog-fighter Timothy Elkins has been postponed. He is now scheduled for a pre-trial conference on February 6, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. Although Elkins has a prior felony conviction for dog-fighting, he currently faces only misdemeanor animal cruelty charges as a result of his arrrest last March, when 26 wounded dogs were allegedly found confined in wooden crates on his property.

Source: Docket # 2006-ERB-072672
Update posted on Jan 29, 2007 - 4:13PM

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Timothy Elkins is scheduled to go on trial beginning January 17, 2007 for multiple counts of dog-fighting and animal cruelty. Last March, a tip from the community led officials to a home on South Fifth Street, where deputies allegedly found 26 wounded dogs confined in wooden crates. Some of the dogs were fighting each other while deputies took photographs as evidence. Elkins, who has a prior conviction for dog-fighting in 2002, was arrested at the scene. The trial is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse, located at 373 S. High St, Columbus, OH 43215.

Update posted on Jan 6, 2007 - 8:03PM

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NBC - March 3, 2006

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Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seizedColumbus, OH (US)

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Dog-fighting - 26 dogs seized
Columbus, OH (US)