By SDCN Editor
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas unsealed a grand jury indictment Wednesday charging a Texas man with federal dogfighting violations.
Jesus Allen Stephens, of Waskom, Texas, made his initial appearance in court. He is charged with participating in a major dogfighting event in November 2021 in Waskom, possessing fighting dogs and fighting dogs in an April 2021 dog fight.
According to court documents, Stephens organized and hosted a large-scale dogfighting event on family-owned property in Harrison County, Texas, on Nov. 13, 2021. Stephens and others arranged to fight dogs for gambling and entertainment. Before the event, Stephens announced a series of up to 14 matches and sent GPS coordinates to the property to multiple individuals. The fight included out-of-state participants. Law enforcement personnel who disrupted the event found a dogfighting pit structure and other dogfighting evidence.
Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. The indictment charges Stephens with possessing seven dogs for dogfighting purposes. Stephens is also charged for his participation in another dog fight that occurred on April 10, 2021. Authorities recovered six dogs in conjunction with the investigation.
If convicted, Stephens faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count charged.
