Man Pleads Guilty To Organizing Dog Fighting Ring

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A 35-year-old Minneapolis man accused of organizing a dog fighting ring and breeding dogs for that purpose pleaded guilty to charges Monday in Hennepin County Court.

Leroy Longs Jr. pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of cruelty to animals in connection with the case. He had been charged in November 2013 with felony animal fighting. He was sentenced to one year probation with 90 days stayed in the Hennepin County workhouse. He must also not have ownership or possession of any dogs.

According to court documents, Longs Jr. was involved in local dog fighting and had been breeding dogs for that purpose in at least eight locations. Witnesses told police had dogs "all over" Minneapolis. Authorities were told Longs Jr. is a known dog fighter.

A criminal complaint states authorities tracked him to at least eight locations where he fed, walked and cleaned up after pit bulls who were being trained for dog fighting. Police said they believed dogs were in kennels 24 hours a day and as many as 18 dogs were involved.

Authorities seized the dogs and had them evaluated. Several of them had scarring consistent with dog fighting and of the 18 dogs, five of them were puppies. The group of dogs included one female pit bull who was pregnant.