On May 10, 2007 at 4505 Genesee Avenue in Dayton, defendant
Simmons offered to sell his American Pit Bull Terrier to an
undercover agent with the Ohio Organized Crime Investigation
Commission.
The Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Simmons on June
11, 2007 for one count of Dog Fighting and one count of
Attempt to Commit Dog Fighting. On July 11, 2007, the
defendant entered a guilty plea to the 4th degree
felony charge of Dog Fighting and was found guilty as
charged.
On August 15, 2007 the defendant was sentenced to six months
in the penitentiary for his criminal activity.
The Miami Valley has seen an increase in dog fighting and
animal cruelty cases. In November 2006, five defendants
were indicted for their criminal activity, including dog
fighting. In June 2007, 38 defendants were indicted on dog
fighting charges as a result of Operation Bite Back. Prior
to the November 2006 indictments, the last time anyone was
indicted and convicted in Montgomery County on charges of
Dog Fighting was 1981, a case prosecuted by Mat Heck, Jr.
The recent influx of dog fighting cases is especially
troubling, as this activity typically promotes other illegal
activity such as gambling, illegal firearm sales and drug
trafficking. The safety of residents, especially children
in our community, and the protection of animals are at risk
due to the vicious nature of the dogs bred for fighting.
Mat Heck, Jr. said, “We absolutely will not tolerate the
horrific abuse and mistreatment of animals in our
community. These cases will be prosecuted to the fullest
extent of the law.”
