Brothers Accused Of Animal Cruelty File Discrimination Lawsuits

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – Twin brothers accused of running a dog fighting operation out of Chaparral have sued their employers, alleging racial discrimination.

Daron Scott filed his lawsuit Dec. 5 in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces, while his brother, Duryea Scott, sued Sept. 24 in U.S. District Court in El Paso, Texas.

The 49-year-old brothers are from El Paso. Daron Scott, a special education teacher at Santa Teresa High School since 2001, alleged in his lawsuit that he’s been systematically harassed by the school principal because he’s black. He is seeking unspecified damages.

Gadsden public school district spokesman Art Ruiloba said the district had not seen the lawsuit. He declined to comment. Daron Scott currently is on paid leave, Ruiloba said.

The lawsuit filed by Duryea Scott, an engineer at White Sands Missile Range, alleges he has been denied a promotion because of his race.

A missile range spokesman, Larry Furrow, said the facility’s hiring and promotion policies “are totally nondiscriminatory.”

“They are based on merit, as they should be,” he said. The brothers were arrested in October and charged with several counts of animal cruelty and conspiracy after dozens of pit bulls were found on properties in Chaparral.

Dona Ana sheriff’s investigators allege the dogs were living in poor conditions and that some had signs of being involved in fights.

The Scotts, who have denied the allegations, said they are professional show dog breeders and that their animals were treated well.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)