Veterinarians remove 44 objects from dog’s stomach
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Several people from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama are facing time behind bars for serious breaches in animal welfare.
All 14 defendants in a federal dog fighting case indicted last year in Donalsonville (about 60 miles north of Tallahassee, FL) have been convicted, according to a news release from the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs. Here’s what we know:
What happened with the Donalsonville dog fighting case?
The defendants all converged on a property in Donalsonville on April 24, 2022, where they held a large-scale dog fighting event. More than 20 pit bull-type dogs were brought to fight that weekend in a series of matches.
Authorities disrupted the event and found numerous dogs inside crates in cars on the property. Some other dogs were kept on chains on the property. A total of 27 dogs were rescued, including one found in the pit with severe injuries and which died a shortly thereafter. Dogs in the cars also had recent injuries and historical fighting scars.
Who was convicted in the Donalsonville dog fight?
Here were the 14 defendants convicted:
- Tamichael Elijah, 48, of Donalsonville, GA
- Marvin Pulley, III, 53, of Donalsonville and Jakin, GA
- Brandon Baker, 42, of Panama City, FL
- Christopher Travis Beaumont, 38, of Panama City
- Herman Buggs, Jr., 57, of Donalsonville
- Terrance Davis, 46, of Pansey, AL
- Timothy Freeman, 27, of Bainbridge, GA
- Terelle Ganzy, 35, of Panama City
- Gary Hopkins, 67, of Donalsonville
- Cornelious Johnson, 40, of Panama City
- Rodrecus Kimble, 44, of Donalsonville
- Donnametric Miller, 42, of Donalsonville
- Willie Russell, 43, of Blakely, GA
- Fredricus White, 36, of Panama City
What is the penalty for dog fighting?
Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase or receive dogs for fighting purposes.
All defendants but Freeman pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibition of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Beaumont and Miller also pleaded guilty to sponsoring or exhibiting (handling) a dog in a dog fight. Baker, Davis, Ganzy, Johnson, Pulley, and White further pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting a dog for purposes of using the dog in an animal fighting venture. Freeman pleaded guilty to spectating at an animal fight. Miller and Pulley also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony conviction.
Each defendant faces maximum penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count of animal fighting charges. Miller also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearm charge, and Pulley faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on his firearm charge.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
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