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CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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When you vote, you are voting on whether or not the punishment fit the crime, NOT on the severity of the case itself. If you feel the sentence was very weak, you would vote 1 star. If you feel the sentence was very strong, you would vote 5 stars.
Please vote honestly and realistically. These ratings will be used a a tool for many future programs, including a "Peoples Choice" of best and worst sentencing, DA and judge "report cards", and more. Try to resist the temptation to vote 1 star on every case, even if you feel that 100 years in prison isnt enough.
Case #766 Rating: 2.3 out of 5
Dog fighting
Salt Lake, UT (US)Incident Date: Saturday, Aug 31, 2002
County: Davis
Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Lynn Yakovich
» Tawnya Sutherland - Dismissed
Lynn Yakovich, 22, was charged with third-degree felony dog fighting and animal cruelty after animal control officers responding to a September 2001 barking complaint discovered the newly wounded dogs and dog-training paraphernalia at a home where she was staying. Yakovich avoided trial and a possible felony conviction by pleading guilty Wednesday to a lesser count of class A misdemeanor of attempted dog fighting. As part of the plea bargain, the animal cruelty count was dismissed.
Third District Judge Robin Reese placed Yakovich on probation for 36 months and sentenced her to 10 days in jail -- time she already had served following her arrest. Yakovich must pay $4,130 to Salt Lake County Animal Services for impound fees, boarding costs and veterinarian services for the three dogs that were in her care. One of the dogs belongs to her grandmother. Yakovich lost custody of the other two dogs, which will be euthanized in eight days unless a county-approved animal rescue organization agrees to take them.
Also charged with dog fighting was 26-year-old Tawnya Sutherland, who was visiting Yakovich with a pit bull when animal control officers arrived. The charge against Sutherland was dismissed after her attorney showed the dog she had brought was owned by a friend.
At a preliminary hearing last year, an animal control officer testified to seeing 16 pit bulls at Yakovich's home, including a litter of 10 puppies. Four of the dogs had newly inflicted wounds, as well as old scars. And two dogs' ears had been trimmed level with their skulls -- apparently to prevent other dogs from grabbing the ears during a fight.
The animal cruelty charge stemmed from a 5-month-old puppy that was wearing a 20-pound chain around its neck. In a blood-spattered basement room, the officer said she saw a treadmill modified for use by dogs, a barbell with teeth marks and first-aid supplies.
Prosecutors believe this is the first dog-fighting prosecution in Utah since 1987, when lawmakers made it a third-degree felony to fight dogs for amusement or monetary gain. References |
