Man who ran dogfighting ring with more than 50 dogs training at his property sentenced
ABC News
An Ohio man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after it was discovered he was running a dogfighting ring from his home where he kept more than 50 dogs.
An Ohio man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after it was discovered he was running a dogfighting ring from his residence where he kept more than 50 dogs, according to authorities.
Law enforcement first investigated 40-year-old Michael Valentine of Bidwell, Ohio, in 2019 after a dog attacked a small child who was living with him, according to a press release from the Department of Justice detailing the case against Valentine.
“That investigation led to a search warrant of the Valentine’s residence and the seizure of 40 dogs,” authorities said. “The search also recovered numerous items of dog fighting paraphernalia, including treadmills, veterinary supplies and dogfighting videos.”
However, three years later on March 8, 2022, a second search was carried out at Valentine’s property -- this time as part of a fentanyl distribution investigation -- and the search revealed Valentine had kept more dog fighting paraphernalia, as well as two assault-style rifles, the DOJ said.
