By DELANIA TRIGG, Register Staff Writer
July 11, 2009 06:28 pm
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Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 thanks to the 2007 Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act.
But the illegal activity is apparently still alive and well.
Earlier this week, U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies arrested eight individuals charged with involvement in an interstate dog fighting ring.
The arrests stemmed from the July 8 execution of a federal arrest warrant in Panola and Greg Counties.
Officers found nine dogs, including pit bull terriers during a search of some property in rural Panola County.
A licensed veterinarian was on-site to examine and provide any necessary care to the dogs. Also on-site were representatives of the Humane Society of the United States, who have been consulted during the investigation, Davilyn Walston of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas, said in a press release.
The individuals in the indictment are Karl S. Courtney, AKA Shane, 34, of Beckville; Jerry S. Chism S. CHISM, AKA Scotty, 34, of Longview; Jerry L. Beene, age 69, of Hampton, Arkansas; Jerry L. Matlock, 57, of Stilwell, Okla; Chase M. Courtney, 26, of Carthage; Devin L. Pelzl, 29, of Beckville, Michael L. Beene, 36, of Hampton, Ark.; Harold D. Stewart, 41, of Beckville; and Chad A. Courtney, 30, of Carthage.
All nine were charged with (1) conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States; (2) sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture; and (3) buying, selling, delivering or transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture.
In a statement issued after the arrests, Bales said the arrests represent a significant step in addressing the activity Bales described as reprehensible.
"I commend the agents and officers who have worked very hard on this investigation. In due time, we look forward to presenting all of the evidence that they have collected in federal court. I also appreciate the significant investigative assistance provided by the Humane Society. "
The U.S. Attorney also filed motions seeking to take legal ownership of the dogs and place the animals in the care and custody of the Humane Society. Under federal law, the government can forfeit any animals engaged in any animal fighting venture. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney is seeking a court order requiring the defendants to reimburse the Humane Society for all costs incurred for care of the animals while the animals are in the custody of the Humane Society.
The indictment resulted from an investigation which began in October 2008, and was launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore is prosecuting the case in coordination with U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri.
Cooke County Sheriff Mike Compton said he’s never investigated any dog fighting incidents in Cooke County.
But admits that doesn't mean the furtive activity isn't taking place in some areas of the county.
Law enforcement officers have investigated some animal cruelty cases, "but we’ve never had an active (dog fighting) case," Compton said. "I can't imagine why anybody would want to be involved in something like that."
One of Cooke County most active and dedicated animal protection advocates is Tommie Kirksmith-Newman of the Red River Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
During her years of volunteer and animal rescue work, Kirksmith said she’s seen several disturbing cases of animal cruelty linked to dog fighting.
One incident happened about 15 years ago, she said.
“Responding to a concerned neighbor's call in Gainesville, I stood on a bucket so I could see over the privacy fence between their yards. Directly beneath me, short-chained to a tree — huddled between the tree and the fence — was a white pit bull puppy, no more than 3 months old. He looked up at me, wagged his tail but made no sound. The pup had no ears. They had been chopped off right next to the skull so his fighting opponent couldn't grab them. The wounds were infected. Rather than have the pup seized and to go through court, the owner surrendered the pup to me. That sweet pup made full recovery. He was adopted by a person in Oklahoma who took him along for show-and-tell lectures to schools and other groups on the horrors of dog fighting as a sport,” she said via e-mail.
A more recent incident started in Fort Worth when a woman rescued a pregnant pit bull from a gang, Kirksmith said.
“A vet in that area delivered this sweet bully's 12 puppies by C-section. But, for everyone's safety, the mama and her puppies had to be taken someplace else ASAP. Somehow they found out about Red River SPCA. Through mysterious ways, we acquired the dogs. The mama developed complications when the puppies were only four days old. So they were put on bottles. Long story short, we nursed mama back to health and meanwhile raised her puppies to 10 weeks of age. We had mama and puppies fixed so no more pit bulls would come from them. Then we turned them over to another authority,” she said.
Unfortunately, Kirksmith said, Red River SPCA’s three foster homes are filled to capacity with homeless pets. There’s no room for pit bulls or another other types of pets, she added.
“We will take no more critters until we find homes for what we currently foster,” she said.
The organization does sometimes provide courtesy listings on its Web site for pets who are good candidates for adoption. However, the animals’ current caretakers or owners must continue to foster them until they are adopted, she noted.
older, and I was the world’s worst little sister.”
Porter said her brother lives in Missouri and she didn’t keep in contact with him. He encouraged her to get her ham radio license so they could talk and she did.
“By the time I got through studying and taking the exams I was hooked,” said Porter. “I got my first license in 1992.”
Porter said of ham radio operators, “It cuts across economic, educational and any demographic factor. When you come to Hamfest you see all kinds of people.”
Porter said her husband ‘nets,’ and gets together with friends in Texas to visit. She said a “net” is like an Internet chat room.
“Sometimes you can hear missionaries from South America,” said Porter of her ham ventures. “I picked up a frequency from a submarine once.”
Porter said there are contests.
“If you can say you’ve talked to someone in every Texas county, to someone in every state, and if you’re really ambitious, all over the world,” said Porter, “you get recognition.”
Guest Honey Easter brought her radio rig to the club so members could help her get to the next step by showing her how to program her radio.
“I don’t know what to do with it,” joked Easter.
“I’m a general (license level). I’ve worked hard. Now I need to learn how to use this,” said Easter as she points to her radio being programmed by skilled operator Cooke County Amateur Radio Club President James Floyd.
Easter said she got her license because, “I’ve always wanted to do this.” She said she saw photos from one of the Gainesville Hamfest’s and that helped get her going.
“This year the church I go to has been offering these classes,” said Easter. “My church is big on emergency preparedness.”
Easter said her father is a big ham radio fan and when she and her son recently became licensed, her father sent them a ham radio rig to get them started.
Milt Rogers just earned his operator’s license and said, “I’ve always been interested but I’ve just never had the time to have another hobby. And then, I like to talk to people.”
He attended the club meeting as a guest and spent much of his time watching Floyd program Easter’s radio.
Rick Wilson was also a guest at the club meeting and said, “This is about the only place here that hams. I’ve been doing this since I was 14 years old. You had to use the morse code back then.”
Cooke County Amateur Radio Club Vice President McGill Hawley said, “I’ve been about 50 years into it. The classes of people that we’re talking to are technically inclined.”
Hawley said he also puts his ham radio in his truck when he travels to communicate with friends or to meet other people.
“It’s a mobile unit and runs off batteries,” said Hawley.
“In emergencies we work well with the police, fire department and ambulance services,” said Hawley. “Out in my truck I have traffic directing equipment such as a vest and flashlight.”
Hawley said that during emergencies he communicates with the local emergency teams through his ham radio so he knows when he and other ham operators can be of assistance.
“We use different frequencies than other people,” said Hawley, explaining why the ham radio is still a valuable tool in emergency and disaster situations.
For beginners starting out on this venture, operating a ham radio requires a license. This involves learning, study and taking the exam for that level.
Porter said the different licenses start with Novice, then go to Tech, General and then to Extra.
“At the Extra level you have privileges on all channels,” said Porter. “I took my courses here at the college.”
“They are hard,” said newly licensed Easter of the exams.
“You no longer need to use or learn the morse code to be licensed,” said Porter.
“The higher level the class the more stations and levels you have access to,” said Rogers.
Information and materials about ham radios and licensing for beginners and the advanced are available on many websites including www.qth.com, www.qrz.com and www.eham.com. These sites will also take you to other ham radio links.
Clausing said the basic types of ham radios are handheld, mobile and a base station.
Handheld ham radios are small and use five watts of power.
Mobile units generate 50 watts of power and can be used stationary or put in a vehicle.
A base station generates 1000 watts of power and uses the tall radio antennas to access many more frequencies and depending on the antennae and equipment can pick up talk around the world.
The Cooke County Amateur Radio Club organizes the annual Gainesville Hamfest. Hamfest 2009 is scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gainesville Civic Center.
“This is our biggest event,” said Clausing.
“This is our point of contact with everyone and to find out what’s going on,” said Porter. “That’s why the Hamfest is so fun.”
The Hamfest includes selling and trading of equipment, like a ham radio swap meet.
“We usually have about 80 tables,” said Clausing. “People bring a variety of amateur radios, new, used and abused, to sell and trade. Some bring antique stuff, books, and a real variety of electronic stuff.”
“We are the only club that has free doughnuts, coffee and popcorn,” joked Porter.
“Sometimes whole scout troops come through the Hamfest,” said Porter. “It’s good to see them getting in to ham radios.”
“Some of the funds from the Hamfest go to groups like Camp Sweeney and the Cooke County Public Library,” said Porter.
For more information about ham radios, the Cooke County Amateur Radio Club and the Gainesville Hamfest 2009, contact James Floyd at 940-668-7511.
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