AR-News: Dogfighting's 'Al Capone' convicted

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From:  gevha at animalprotector.com  
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 4:32 PM
Subject: Dogfighting's 'Al Capone' convicted


Dogfighting's 'Al Capone' convicted 

Magazine publisher convicted of dogfighting, cruelty

http://cbsnewyork.com/nynews/NY-BRF--DogfightArres-on/resources_news_html

By Oliver Mackson
Times Herald-Record
omackson @ th-record.com  (remove 2 spaces)

Goshen: A judge needed barely an hour yesterday to convict a Westtown man reputed to be the biggest promoter of dog fights east of the Mississippi.

James Fricchione, 34, faces a maximum of 15 to 18 years in state prison when he's sentenced April 14 by Orange County Court Judge Nicholas DeRosa. "To the dogfighting world, this is like taking down Al Capone," prosecutor David Hoovler said after court yesterday.

Fricchione not only trains dogs, he publishes Sporting Dog Journal out of his house on County Route 1. The bimonthly magazine has about 6,000 subscribers nationwide and is a veritable bible of dogfighting. It draws advertising from kennels and correspondence from dog owners who identify themselves with names like "Sonn y Mean Streets" and "McNasty."

Fricchione's house was raided last year by the state police. After he was indicted on a plethora of felony and misdemeanor charges, he opted for a nonjury trial.

DeRosa convicted him of one count of animal fighting, four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals, and a single count of tampering with evidence.

Fricchione was also convicted of five misdemeanors under state Agriculture and Markets Law.
His eyes were damp and red after the verdict and he was surrounded by family and friends as he left the Orange County Courthouse. He declined to discuss the verdict; his lawyer, Norman Shapiro, assured him that there were ample grounds for an appeal. Fricchione remained free on $10,000 cash bail yesterday.

The verdict was greeted with relief by Samantha Mullen of the Humane Society of the United States. She took copious notes while watching the trial. "His influence goes much further than this, because of the Sporting Dog Journ al," she said of Fricchione. "We're very proud of the way the state police and the Orange County district attorney's office addressed this case."
Mullen grew somber when she talked about why it will be necessary to destroy the 18 pit bulls seized from Fricchione's property last year. She said they're getting better care now in shelters than they ever did in his home; the trial was marked by gory presentations of blood-spattered treadmills and photos of scarred dogs.

But their trainers have turned them into animals that are simply too dangerous, Mullen said. "They can never be trusted around other animals, and they tend to do unpredictable things, such as attacking humans."

Please take time to thank Oliver Mackson of the Times Herald-Record for his article at: omackson @ th-record.com (remove 2 spaces)

Internet unleashes US dogfight craze

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/14/1073877889804.html

 

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