A St. Joseph man pleaded guilty today to promoting dogfighting.
Rick P. Hihath, 55, pleaded guilty in federal court. He and six other men (including one who taught at a high school in my hometown) were charged in June with running a dogfighting operation. A three-state raid seized 350 dogs.
Hihath, who worked at a state school for the disabled, pleaded guilty to transporting dogs across states lines (from Iowa and Nebraska to Missouri) to fight and being the Don King of dogfighting.
Last week, Cris E. Bottcher, a 48-year-old nurse from
Gilman City, Missouri, admitted that he transported dogs
across state lines for an animal fighting venture, and sponsored the dogfighting venture.
The government is trying to take over ownership of Hihath's seven pit bull terriers and five American bulldogs as well as Bottcher's 11 pit bull terriers. The Humane Society is taking care of the dogs now.
Hihath could get up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. A sentencing hearing hasn't been set yet.
Also today, 35-year-old Jack Ruppel pleaded guilty to a separate
dogfighting case. He admitted taking dogs across state lines for
fights and promoting the fights via the mail as well as selling a dog
for the purpose of making it a fighter.
Prosecutors say Ruppel ran Ozark Hillbillies Kennel, where he bred,
raised, trained and sold dogs as part of a dogfighting ring in 2008.
Ruppel copped to attending 10 dog fights between July 19, 2008, and
April 18, 2009. He even hosted and bet on a dogfight at his home. And
if a dog refused to fight -- or didn't fight up to his expectations --
Ruppel would kill them.
The government wants control of Ruppel's 46 dogs.
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