More Charges Filed In Animal Cruelty Case

LAS CRUCES –Two brothers charged with animal cruelty and dogfighting in Dona Ana County held a news conference on Tuesday. Theysaid theywere innocent of the allegations being made against them.

Darren and Duryea Scott say there are no witnesses to prove they used their dogs to fight with other dogs for sport.

The Scotts say they bred and kept their dogs strictly for competitive shows. Atthe news conference arranged by their lawyer, the Scotts displayed pictures and award ribbons, representations they saidbolstered theirargument of innocence.

The criminal complaintindicates chains and other equipment found at theScotts’ homeswere used to strengthen the dogs for dogfighting, which is illegal in the U.S.

The brothers said theyhad beenvictims of many thefts and they locked up their dogs for protection. When asked to comment on certainemails and booksfound in their homes — which law enforcementsuggested pointed to a proclivity for dogfighting, the Scotts saidthey were using those documents to learn how to train the pitbulls for dog shows.

ABC 7 spoke with District Attorney Susana Martinez for comment. Shesaid the evidence is overwhelmingto show theScotts’ purpose for theanimals was to engage in dogfighting.

“We plan to bring in an expert witness to show how poorly these dogs were cared for,” Martinez said. “A veterinarian will show how the animalswere dehydrated, how the accusedhad heavy chains on a four-month-old puppy.”

Michael Cain, the attorneyfor theScott brothers, refuted the accusations made against his clients. “As far as the dogfighting charges go, they’re absolutely baseless,” he said. “We believe the state cannot produce one single, credible witness who could substantiate any of the dogfighting charges.”

If convicted, Daron Scott faces 28-and-a-half years in prison. Duryea Scott faces 37 years behind bars.Cain says the sheriff’s office is just riding on the heels of the Michael Vick case for publicity. Vick, the suspended NFL star, is in jail as he awaits trial on two felony dogfighting charges.