Lance Martin, Herald Senior Staff Writer

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Sunday’s dog fight outside Enfield involved at least one individual who was once arrested on similar charges in Virginia and was convicted of animal cruelty in 2005.

John Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues for the Humane Society in Washington, D.C., says that Richard Robinson and his partner Kenneth Salley were charged in a July, 2004, raid in Virginia.

Robinson, 32, who was charged with dog fighting in the Sunday raid in Halifax County, was charged in July of 2004 with 24 dog fighting counts and was convicted of one felony dog fighting charge and six animal cruelty charges in 2005.

Goodwin said it is common for those with previous convictions to continue to participate in dog fights. “A lot of these guys tend to be repeat offenders and career criminals.”

Goodwin said he is not surprised there is dog fighting in Halifax County. “One of the most well known registries that animal fighters use is in this area.”

He is referring to the Weldon-based Bona Fide Kennel Club which, according to its Web site, exclusively registers American Pit Bull Terriers. “The reason they register is it gives verification to what the dog’s pedigree is,” Goodwin said. “Which increases the value of the dog.”

Bona Fide Kennel Club advertised in sporting dog journals for years, Goodwin said. The Daily Herald obtained a copy of the most recent issue of International Dog Journal in which Bona Fide advertised its services. In the past, club leaders have denied links to dog fighting.

Goodwin said some 40,000 people are involved in the organized world of dog fighting nationwide and about 100,000 people are involved in amateur street fighting, representing 250,000 dogs in the hands of dogfighters at all levels during any given year.

Local investigators learned another man charged in the Sunday bust, Charles Rives, 26, of Whitakers, owned property where the fight was staged and charged admission and was responsible for the entry fee, Lt. Bobby Martin of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said.

Admission was $20 per person and the entry fee was $100, Martin said.

Meanwhile, Martin said the fourth dog, one which ran when officers raided the location off Bellamy Mill Road, was located after it tried to attack a community dog.

Martin said this morning the dog appeared to be a veteran in dog fighting circles and also had a shaved rump, indicative of where the fighters injected him with performance enhancing drugs, such as B-12, cocaine or speed.

Listings for Rives came back as disconnected when the Daily Herald tried to contact him.

Martin said investigators are still trying to determine the dogs’ bloodlines. The last raid the sheriff’s office was involved in the owners had the papers. This time, however, there was no paperwork showing the dogs’ bloodlines or registry.

Local investigators say they plan to pursue federal charges. “Training dogs and sending them across state lines for the purpose of fighting is against the law,” Martin said.

In a sheriff’s office news release, Martin said Sgt. Greg Richardson learned of the location and he and Lt. Neil Aycock devised a plan to break up the ring.

Rives, 26, was charged with dog fighting, carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana.

Others charged were:

•Osaze Addae, 35, of Richmond, Va., dog fighting.

• William Harris, 33, of Elizabeth City, dog fighting.

• Anthony Wright, 33, of Richmond, Va., dog fighting, possession of a firearm by a felon and altering a serial number on a weapon.

• Corey Sledge, 21, of Whitakers, dog fighting.

• Ervin Brothers, 30, of Elizabeth City, dog fighting.

• Vernon Perry, 42, of Elizabeth City, dog fighting.

• Scott Murphy, 28, dog fighting.

Halifax County Crime-stoppers offers rewards for information that leads to the arrest of people involved in animal fighting or even neglect. Call 252-583-4444 for more information.

The Humane Society of the United States pays up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of dog fighters. For more information on that program, call 202-452-1100. Your identity will be protected.