Dog Fighting Carries Serious Criminal Charges In Daytona Beach
Dogfighting is illegal in Florida and in all 50 states, yet that does not keep people from engaging in it either as a hobby or a business. If you are caught, you face serious criminal penalties, including heavy fines and a potential jail sentence. In this type of situation, you need our Daytona Beach criminal defense attorney on your side.
Daytona Beach Man Arrested On Dog Fighting Charges
According to a March 4, 2021 Daytona Beach News-Journal report, a 50-year-old local man was arrested after officers with the Daytona Beach police department and animal control services seized 42 pit bulls from his home on Reva Street in late February. He is alleged to have mistreated the animals, breeding them and using them for the purpose of making money through a dogfighting operation.
Authorities claimed the man kept the dogs behind a privacy fence located on an adjacent property. The dogs were in poor condition in general, with numerous scars and wounds that had never healed. They also appeared malnourished, were without food and water, and kept in filthy conditions. A syringe and a bottle of Red Cell, a supplement used to increase the stamina of dogs in fights, were also found at the scene.
Officers seized the dogs, who were taken to the Halifax Humane Society. Their owner was placed under arrest and faces a variety of criminal charges. These include 10 counts of animal cruelty and ten counts of practicing veterinary medicine without a license. He was held in the Volusia County Branch Jail, with bail set at $30,000 bail.
Criminal Penalties For Dog Fighting In Daytona Beach
The American Humane Society reports that dogfighting is a felony criminal offense in all 50 states. Designating it as a felony crime, rather than a misdemeanor offense, allows police officers to put more effort and resources into conducting investigations into suspected dog fighting rings and increases fines, putting a dent in the high profits leaders of dogfighting rings often make. It also increases the odds of a jail sentence, which can range anywhere from five to 30 years.
Under the Florida Statutes, you could be charged with felony dogfighting for any of the following:
- Breeding, training, selling, purchasing, or otherwise using a dog for the purpose of animal fighting or baiting;
- Owning, possessing, or selling equipment used as part of dogfighting;
- Owning, leasing, managing, operating, or having control of any property associated with the crime;
- Promoting, staging, advertising, or charging admission fees for dog fights;
- Performing any service that facilitates dogfighting;
- Betting or wagering money on the outcome of dogfights or being a spectator at events.
Reach Out to Us Today for Help
Dogfighting is a serious criminal matter in Daytona Beach. Even relatively minor involvement could result in a lengthy jail sentence. To protect yourself, get Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A. on your side. Contact our Daytona Beach criminal defense attorneys online and request a consultation today.
Resource:
news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/04/florida-man-arrested-after-42-dogs-used-fighting-found-home-earl-holmes-noble-geathers-daytona-beach/4578220001/
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