More charges likely in hog-dog case

Rock Hill, SC -- State officials will pursue additional criminal charges against a Chester County pair facing charges for an alleged hog-and-dog-fighting operation in Richburg, a state police agent testified Wednesday.

Agent Jack Rushing III of the State Law Enforcement Division would not say what new charges Arthur Parker Sr. and Mary Evans Luther may face or when those charges may be filed.

Magistrate Diane Moore ruled prosecutors can move forward with the current charges of animal fighting and baiting against Parker and Luther. Both are charged in connection with a hog-dog fight in Richburg in October.

Hog-dogging is a blood sport pitting penned wild hogs against dogs. Nearly 100 dogs and 15 hogs were seized last year.

Rushing testified that a private investigator from Alabama was the confidential informant who videotaped and audiotaped the hog-dog fights Oct. 16.

The Humane SPCA in Columbia -- which has characterized the sport as hog-dogging "rodeos" -- put the informant in contact with a state task force on animal fighting, Rushing testified.

'I did not pay this person'

The informant tipped off Rushing that the animal fights were going on, Rushing testified.

"I did not pay this person," Rushing testified. "He came forward."

Humane Society officials were present at the time of the incident and also were present when a search warrant later was executed at Parker Sr.'s home, Rushing testified.

Parker Sr., Luther, Parker's son Arthur Parker Jr. and former Chester County Animal Control officer Vickie Stultz Land have all been charged. Land's lawyer argued in a previous hearing she was being used as a scapegoat.

The cases against all four are expected to be submitted to a Chester County grand jury in April, Frick said.