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Case #931 Rating: 2.1 out of 5
School mascot stolen, used in dog-fight
Las Vegas, NV (US)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 27, 2000
County: Clark
Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Case Images: 3 files available
Defendants/Suspects:
» Richard McDonald
» Douglas Stumpf
» Austin Long
» Gilbert Stedman
» Anthony Ward
» 16 year old boy
» juvenile male
» juvenile male
» juvenile male
» juvenile male
» juvenile male
» Adam Wright
» Jayson Craddock
» Stephen Gresh - Not Charged
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Richard McDonald and Douglas Stumpf pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in the theft and torture of a high school's canine mascot known as Blu.
Blu a 20 month old English bulldog and mascot for Centennial High School, sustained life-threatening injuries after she was forced into a staged fight with another dog (a 9 month old pit bull trained for attacks) while students watched.
Blu had lost a dangerous amount of blood, suffered from hypothermia and 6 infected puncture wounds to her left ear, cheek, neck and shoulder.
Both McDonald and Stumpf (age 18) were two of 11 students charged for the cruelty. McDonald and Stumpf both were ordered to stay out of trouble for one year, write letters of apology to the dog's owner and perform 150-200 hours of community service at an animal shelter. McDonald must also prepare a report on the causes and effects of animal abuse. Stumpf was also given a $270 fine, must pay $1000 in restitution and a 2-day jail sentence as well as 60 days of house arrest. The only dog now permitted in Stumpf home is his mother's terrier. Stumpf owned two dogs, which now have been taken and placed elsewhere.
McDonald was a starting quarterback on the Mojave football team. He no longer plays football and attends an alternative school. If he stays out of trouble and completes all the terms of his sentence, his record will be wiped clean at the end of one year.
Long, Stedman and Ward (all age 17) were expecting to receive similar sentences, but Juvenile Court Judge Robert Gaston rejected the sentence the two sides agreed on. Instead Judge Gaston, ordered the boys to spend a week in jail, to undergo psychological evaluations, a year on probation and 200 hours in community service with an animal welfare agency. They were also ordered to write letters of apology to Blu's owner. All are now former members of the football team.
A 16-year-old, whose name was not released, was sentenced to 1-year probation and no animals can be left in his care while on probation and he was ordered to spend 200 hours in community service. The boy did not participate directly in the dognapping and was not actively involved in the dogfight, but because he was a spectator, that was enough to charge him with a juvenile offense, under Nevada law.
The other 5 students charged in the abuse are awaiting adjudication of their cases in Clark County Family Court because they are all juveniles. 4 of the remaining 5 students were charged with misdemeanor witnessing a fight. The other 1 student, face more serious charges for stealing the animal. All but 1 pleaded guilty before Juvenile Hearing Master Fernando Guzman to felony charges including theft, conspiracy to commit theft, maiming and animal, instigating a fight between animals, injuring or abandoning an animal and misdemeanor witnessing a fight. Because their cases went before juvenile courts we are not privi to the sentencing information.
All the boys were booked on suspicion of felony theft, felony cruelty to an animal, maiming an animal, and conspiracy. All the boys were from Mojave High School- a football game rivalry is believed to be the motivation behind the cruelty.
The football coach, Steve Gresh, showed up after the fact and left but didn't report the cruelty. Because of there was not enough evidence to support charging him, he will not be prosecuted.
The boys told police they let the pit bull attack Blu for a couple of minutes then cleaned her off and let the dog be attacked again. They said they were going to let the dog get Blu again but got bored because Blu wasn't fighting back.
An Anonymous man walked into the ARK Animal Clinic and paid Blu's $500 medical bills shortly after the attack. $4000 in donations in Blu's name has come into the clinic and will be used to help animals whose owners can't afford the veterinary care.
Captain Rick Bilyeu of the Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Frank Ponticello, the Deputy District Attorney prosecuted the youths involved.
Case UpdatesA teen-ager charged with the theft of Centennial High School's canine mascot told a judge Wednesday that the idea to steal Blu the bulldog did not originate with him or any of the 10 other youths arrested in the high-profile animal abuse caper.
"This all started last summer during football practice. Our coach pretty much prompted us into doing this," 17-year-old Jayson Craddock told Juvenile Judge Dianne Steel during a plea for clemency.
Steel sentenced Craddock and 17-year-old Adam Wright, two of the five youths who took Blu from Centennial senior Tiffany Clark's home, to 200 hours of community service, one year of probation and a $100 fine. Craddock and Wright also must write a letter of apology to Clark and are not allowed to be primary care providers for animals for one year, Steel ruled.
Craddock, Wright and three other Mojave students reportedly stole the dog from Clark's back yard the night of Sept. 27, according to police reports and court documents.
They took the animal to Elizondo Elementary School, where they were joined by as many as 20 more Mojave students who watched as a 9-month-old pit bull bit Blu's front legs, left ear and shoulder during several attacks.
Blu was found early the next day -- about 12 hours before Mojave and Centennial were set to face off on the gridiron -- tied to a stake on the 50-yard line of Centennial's field, soaked from the sprinklers and dressed in a clinging Mojave T-shirt.
She had lost a dangerous amount of blood through numerous punctures and suffered from hypothermia and infected wounds. A veterinarian initially said the dog might not survive, but the animal was able to return home about a week after the ordeal.
Police submitted an affidavit to the district attorney's office in an effort to obtain a warrant for coach Stephen Gresh's arrest, but prosecutors declined to charge him, citing a lack of evidence.
An affidavit filed by Las Vegas officer D. Lyerly said Gresh "suggested to several members of the football team that they should steal the English bulldog."
The statement said Gresh went to the scene of Blu's attack for about 10 to 15 minutes after the incident and asked students whether they had the animal.
"The students told Gresh that they did have the bulldog, and one student was holding the bulldog while he spoke to Gresh," the affidavit said. "Gresh then told the students to shave the letter 'M' on the dog, to paint it orange or put a Mojave T-shirt on the dog and take it to the Centennial High School football field. Gresh failed to advise authorities that he knew who had taken the dog and that he himself was present at the scene following the incident."
Clark County School District officials fired Mojave High School football coach and health teacher Stephen Gresh, 35, after the Metropolitan Police Department investigation concluded he was involved in the incident that left Blu with life-threatening injuries. | Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal � Jan 4, 2001
Update posted on Jul 26, 2007 - 7:22PM |
References
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