STAR PRESS FILE PHOTOOne of two pit bulls confiscated from Chris Wilson’s home peeks out from a cage at the Muncie Animal Shelter in December of 2006. The dogs were later put to death.
MUNCIE -- Christopher Wilson loved dogs as a child, according to his mother, but the Muncie man was found guilty Tuesday of promoting animal fighting and cruelty to animals.
"This is a case of an individual that benefited from fighting dogs," said Deputy Prosecutor Joe Orick, displaying photographs of a chewed-up pit bull that was found in Wilson's possession.
Wilson's mother, Brenda Gore, maintained the guilty verdicts rendered by Delaware Circuit Court 3 Judge Robert Barnet Jr. were wrong.
"Chris raised dogs since he was nine," Gore said. "He loves animals."
Based on evidence presented by Orick, Barnet found Wilson, 22, guilty of promoting an animal fighting contest, a class D felony carrying a standard 18-month prison term, and two counts of animal cruelty, a class B misdemeanor with a maximum 180-day jail sentence.
The judge found Wilson not guilty of resisting law enforcement.
Barnet issued the verdicts after a two-hour bench trial and ordered Wilson held in jail pending a Sept. 17 sentencing hearing.
Wilson's arrest followed a December fire in a condemned house at 823 E. Main St. where two canines were found.
Police officer Michael Edwards said he found two pit bulls, an adult in a cage that was standing in feces and urine without food or water, and a puppy tied to a treadmill with a one-foot leash.
Orick provided photographs illustrating scars from chew marks on the head and legs of the adult pit bull.
Jill Dolon, president of Unconditional Love Foundation, testified that the scars on the dog were consistent with wounds caused by dog fighting.
The animal rights group has produced a documentary on dog fighting and also provides education to prevent animal cruelty.
Defense attorney Ross Rowland tried to exclude Dolon's testimony, saying she had no formal education in animal care and treatment. Barnet allowed the testimony after Dolon testified she received education and training as a county animal control officer.
Wilson denied he had ever been involved in dog fighting, insisting that the animals were regularly fed and watered. He also claimed equipment in the house, such as the treadmill and scales, were for his personal use.
"I moved out of the house because it was condemned," said Wilson, who maintained he continued to care for the two dogs and others there after moving out. The two dogs police found were taken to the Muncie Animal Shelter and later put to death.
Orick said the prosecutor's office took animal rights "very seriously."
"We aggressively pursue these cases any time we hear of dog fighting," the deputy prosecutor said.
Rowland, meanwhile, insisted there was no evidence to prove his client intended to commit the crimes against animals.
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