Atlanta News 5:22 p.m. Thursday, September 3, 2009

Man who ran dogfighting ring gets 10 years

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A 33-year-old Atlanta man who ran a major dogfighting operation was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison.

Ossia M. Phillips pleaded guilty in Fulton County Superior Court to 15 counts of dogfighting and two counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

In December 2007, police found 15 live pit bulls and the remains of several others on his property in the Ben Hill neighborhood. In the woods behind Phillips’ home, officers found a ring where they believe the pit bulls fought.

Many of the pit bulls bore fighting scars and bite marks.

Phillips’ operation was discovered when a man walking in the area saw a rifle, a dead dog, and several dogs chained to trees.

Senior Judge Stephanie Manis sentenced Phillips to 10 years in prison, followed by seven years on probation.

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