Pima County seeks property of woman acquitted on dog-fighting charges

Tucson,AZ -- Pima County is trying to seize land belonging to an Avra Valley woman found not guilty in November of breeding pit bulls for dog fighting.

The Pima County Attorney’s Office is pursuing civil forfeiture proceedings against two properties, one in Picture Rocks and the other in Cochise County, owned by Emily Dennis, a woman who was accused last year of breeding dogs for dog fighting rings.

County officials say just because Dennis was acquitted of the charges doesn’t mean she wasn’t breaking the law.

Dennis was arrested in February 2008 as part of a major investigation by the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the Humane Society of the United States into a multi-state dog fighting ring. Officers raided four separate properties, seized hundreds of dogs and arrested six people, including Dennis.

But Dennis and her partner Mahlon Patrick were acquitted by Judge John Leonardo in November. Leonardo said the Web site maintained by their kennel would have reached people interested in fighting dogs but there was not enough evidence the two knew their dogs would be used for fighting.

At trial, lawyers for the two said they raised pit bulls because they loved the breed.

The two properties the county attorney’s office is trying to seize are Dennis’ home and kennel in Picture Rocks, which is in Dennis’ mother’s name, and a property on South Kansas Settlement Road in Cochise County.

Reached by phone, Dennis said the forfeiture procedure was an abuse of power and the county should leave her alone now that she’s been acquitted. But she did not want to be interviewed further because she feels much of the coverage of her arrest and trial was biased.

Dennis and Patrick also have filed a claim against Pima County seeking more than $1 million in compensation for their dogs. The county seized 110 pit bulls from Dennis and Patrick. The claim puts the value of each dog at $10,000.
The county did not respond to a similar claim filed by Patrick before he was acquitted.

Read more in Monday's Arizona Daily Star.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/285496.php

 

All I have to say is "WHAT"????

 

She was acquitted and they're trying to seize her property,I'm telling you,alot of the time the law is worse than the criminals in jail. County officials say just because Dennis was acquitted of the charges doesn’t mean she wasn’t breaking the law.-Sounds like they need new county officials,if your acquitted,if they like it or not they should leave you alone.That is really screwed up.

 

I hope they Rape them for all the money they can, those dirty bastards!

 

I figure that since a suit has been filed, they will seize the property, then turn a round and sell it to pay her off. :rolleyes:

 

I hate those F%CKERS!!!! I wouldnt piss on not anyone asociated with that if they were on fire!!!

 

They have been trying to steal the properties of Emily, Pat, Rudy, Bobby and Terry since this began.

Pima County thought this operation would be a huge cash cow because that's what the HSUS led them to believe. They thought it would be open and shut and they'd clean up on the deal. Low and behold that is NOT what happened and so they are still trying to make a profit.

Emily and Pat, I am told, are fighting this tooth and nail, as they well should, and I encourage you all to support them emotionally and any way you can.

They were proven innocent in a court of law and yet still the corrupt cops and officials who killed their dogs are trying to make a buck.

 

Ia mglad Marty thanks for putting this up but it is like I said many months ago Emily jus on the criminal charges spent over 60,000$ in legal expensenes and now over 18,000 for her civil charges as the Forfeiture is a civil charge and criminal attorneys do onot handle thses as part of their charges or fees and not to mention Pat and mily had to put down a large bond on their property ,again not trying to cry here but this was the only reason I had to take the plea as I hsd no -way to pay a civil attorney for 1) My self andm 20 my wife they are using the same tatic on my other co-defedants alos ,they are just sore losers !!!:mad::mad::confused:

 

Civil cases are tricky folks. OJ was acquitted of murder in a criminal case, but found guilty in a civil case. The requirements needed for evidence in a civil case is less strict.

 

WTF. :confused: