ASPCA Blog Banner

November 23, 2011

Go, Terry Mills! NY Dog Fighters Plead Guilty

Terry MillsThanks in part to ASPCA Animal Fighting Expert Terry Mills, two dog fighters in New York are facing the consequences for their gruesome crimes.

On April 13, police in Long Beach, New York, came upon a horrifying sight near a sewage treatment plant: Two men were street fighting three Pit Bulls by mashing their faces together, rotating the dogs for endurance training.

When it came time to prosecute the two dog fighters, Sha-ron Hicks and Robert Stockdale, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office turned to ASPCA Animal Fighting Expert Terry Mills to serve as an expert witness.

As the trial date neared, defense attorneys tried to block Mills from testifying, but the judge struck down their motion. Soon after, facing a case bolstered by Mills’ expert testimony, the defense folded; Hicks and Stockdale pleaded guilty to felony dog fighting.

Hicks will receive three months in jail, five years of probation, an order not to possess animals for five years, a spot check agreement to support the order, and restitution for related veterinary bills. Stockdale will receive the same sentence, minus the jail time.

This case marks the second and third guilty pleas Mills has helped secure in Nassau County.

  

Post your comments

Your comments are welcome here, but please remember to practice proper comment etiquette. Comments that include inappropriate or personal information will be deleted.

  • Submitted by ppdrfyivpr at:April 21, 2012 03:57 PM

    rg2Ntf oifxrhfemcnr

  • Submitted by Ghirls at:April 20, 2012 01:17 AM

    I volunteer for a Baltimore erucse and I have read the allegations on this blog. If they are true (and with so many people coming forward and giving accounts that are so similar, including children who volunteered there how could they not be) then not only should the director and the head of the board be fired, they should be prosecuted for animal cruelty?The County needs to withhold the taxpayer money AND every person who is outraged by this needs to call the media, get together, go into the CCSPCA and SIT IN and OCCUPY that facility until CCSPCA agrees to:1.) Fire the director, the staff who have participated in this, AND the head of the board of directors.2.) Take the Wicomico County's offer of caring for the CCSPCA animals.This shelter is obviously the Abu Ghraib for animals.I am willing to participate in the sit-in if we can get a crowd.

  • Submitted by Nior at:April 20, 2012 01:13 AM

    Scusate l'intervento che esula dall'argomento proposto ma verroi sottoporVi queste domande:Perch sono state eliminate queste funzioni dal sito?:I voti nei post sono stati eliminati, perch ?Penso che se un intervento risulta essere maleducato o insolente, sottolineando la disapprovazione degli altri utenti si instauri in chi l ha lasciato un timore o una riflessione su quanto ha scritto.Altrimenti, a meno che non ci sia una supervisione accurata degli amministratori, essendo il messaggio anonimo si potrebbero verificare degli abusi. Bannarli servirebbe a poco essendo l iscrizione anonima. Questo senza nulla togliere agli iscritti che mi sembra siano molto corretti e responsabili.Un altra cosa, molto pi importante di questa, ho notato che non pi possibile scrivere recensioni. E una cosa momentanea o c stata qualche decisione in merito? Sarebbe un peccato perch molto utile sapere com' un determinato gioco e come viene considerato

  • Submitted by Leyla at:April 18, 2012 04:43 AM

    she called the State's Attorney and eatkld to them. It says they're going to talk to you about it too and they welcome your input. I thought you said you already had already filed a complaint. What's the right story here? Were you trying to get an invesgitation going or did the SPCA have to do it to straighten things out.Smitty is getting very confused here. Why didn't say something to the Cecil Whig too?Smitty

  • Submitted by Patrick at:January 10, 2012 11:41 PM

    Are the 3 dogs alright?! Are they in good homes?

  • Submitted by ashly at:January 4, 2012 04:31 PM

    that looks like my dog

  • Submitted by Judy at:December 15, 2011 09:11 PM

    These sentences are a slap on the wrist. Drug abuse and sales usually go along with dog fighting, its a breeding ground for crime. Dog Fighting needs to be made a FELONY in the state of NY.

  • Submitted by Agatha at:December 4, 2011 03:25 PM

    Surprisinlgy well-written and informative for a free online article.

  • Submitted by Patrick at:November 30, 2011 05:11 PM

    We all make mistakes, myself included. But, I would NEVER imagine doing something like this! There is NO excuse for this cruel behavior!

  • Submitted by Renee at:November 29, 2011 10:38 PM

    Thank you, Mr. HIcks, for bravely confronting horrific things like this. I too would like to learn more about how to help push legislation that gives more punishment, including preventing the defendants for ever owning pets again. As well, I'm disappointed that I can't find news about this case, though if a dog who looks like a "pit bull" nips someone, it makes headlines everywhere.

  • Submitted by Anon at:November 29, 2011 09:37 PM

    well good riddance!!! i can't stand animal abusers and pit bull fighting is probably one of the worst things you can make your pet do i just can't understand how someone could intentionally cause harm to an animal and not feel the slightest bit of remorse and the time sentenced to them is just not enough i say 1 year in prison and restriction from owning a pet EVER again

  • Submitted by Amy at:November 29, 2011 04:07 PM

    Thank you to both Terry and the Nassau County District Atty. Office for getting these dirtbags. Only wish the jail time was longer.

  • Submitted by Joanne at:November 28, 2011 11:14 PM

    While I'm thankful that the penalties are becoming more severe, 3 months in jail is nothing. How about 3 years in jail followed by 10 years of probation and the stipulation that are never to own an animal? It seems fair from my standpoint. You do the crime, expect to do the time. Period!

  • Submitted by Mary at:November 28, 2011 09:35 PM

    This is good but I don't think they got enough punishment. Wish they were thrown in jail for at least 10 yrs to show other monsters that this will not be tolerated and should be made to wear signs on their backs"Animal Abuser".

  • Submitted by Jerry at:November 28, 2011 08:34 PM

    thank you Terry, I hope that beautiful pitt belongs to you. Someone like you could appreciate such an animal.

  • Submitted by Karan at:November 28, 2011 05:19 PM

    Thank you, Terry Mills, for all you do to help these precious animals. It is not easy to keep your composure in cases like this.

  • Submitted by Kymberly at:November 28, 2011 04:06 PM

    I just don't get it. 3 Months..hell that's probably a vacation for these A-holes. I would love to see these guys pay restitution in the form of vet bills for all the dogs that are turned over to humane societies or rescues that are harmed in dog fighting. Obviously the small amount of jail time is not harsh enough...hit them in their pockets. Maybe when they can't EAT or are HOMELESS, they will GET THE POINT!

  • Submitted by cb at:November 28, 2011 04:00 PM

    Remember...this is only their earthly punishment. There will be a special hell for them. I truly believe that.

  • Submitted by jo at:November 28, 2011 03:55 PM

    Our laws are way to easy for animal abuse, thats horrible 3 months, they should never be allowed to own a dog and should have to serve a few years

  • Submitted by Jane at:November 28, 2011 03:54 PM

    Thank You and God Bless Terry Mills and his staff at ASPCA First and Foremost! I would not have the stamina, guts or professionalism not to "lose it" with people like these. Keep up your work Terry! I, too, though, am very sad, frustrated and discouraged, that these CRIMINALS are getting the proverbial "slap on the wrist" And these are FELONY ANIMAL CHARGES! No Jail Time or 3 months? Our Judicial System is very backward and does NOT let the punishments fit the crimes! In NYC we would LIKE to think these sick FELONS will be followed up on not to own animals for 5 years (IT SHOULD BE NEVER!!) but there is just no man power to enforce this. I'd like to see "SHAR-ON" and that other psycho-path have to work with animals at a Humane Soceity under direct supervision the entire time for 5 years as well UNPAID. WHEN IS the suppossedly Forward Thinking Great U.S.A. going to get that these people are serious violent offenders and move on to people? Let's get them off the streets NOW hopefully before they start killing more animals AND PEOPLE and profitting from dog fighting! Please support The ASPCA. What is 25.00 in a whole year? THANK YOU!

  • Submitted by Yessica at:November 28, 2011 03:40 PM

    Although I'm glad Terry helped and these asshole got punished it's still not enough. These animals suffer greatly at the hand of these monsters and they pay the price because most are put down while they get to live. The only way to do that and I tell this to people constantly, contact ur representatives or senator and ask tem to co-sponsor legislation so that when things like this happen you can hold up the law and show no mercy toward these individuals, copration, or anyone who willingly abuses these animals Oh...yeah may these monsters rot in hell!

  • Submitted by kristie at:November 28, 2011 03:27 PM

    this is a step, we have thousands to go! but, we are saving pitt bulls one at a time. I have three. the best dogs anyone could ask for!!! they have hlped with raising my kittens. also, love oher animals. my question is; when someone shots someone, do u blame the gun? no u blame the person behind the gun!! same with pitt bulls. its the owner not the dog!!!!!! bless all the real pitt owners and savers!!!!!

  • Submitted by Sheryl at:November 28, 2011 03:12 PM

    There is a pitbull next door that wouldn't hurt a fly. The punishment should fit the crime and 3 months does not. Lock them up and throw away the key. Keep up the good work Terry Mills!

  • Submitted by Lucy at:November 28, 2011 02:57 PM

    They should NEVER be allowed to own animals again, not just for 5 years. NEVER. But I'm glad they're not off completely. Something is better than nothing, and too many get nothing at all. We all need to get out and vote people into office that will fight for animal rights. If we want stiffer penalties, we have to make it happen.

  • Submitted by ap at:November 28, 2011 02:48 PM

    I think they should be locked up and treated just the way they treated the dogs.. how cruel

  • Submitted by Edyta at:November 28, 2011 02:44 PM

    Absolutely! The sentence is way to low!!! They should serve at least few years in jail!

  • Submitted by Theresa at:November 28, 2011 02:35 PM

    For all the work Terry Mills and his task force have put in and the damage to the dogs, the sentence is way too light. If our judicial system doesn't value the lives of animals then how can we expect the monsters out there to think twice about their criminal actions? Ugh...

  • Submitted by Christine at:November 28, 2011 02:32 PM

    Now that we are finally bringing some of these criminals to justice, we need to make the sentences fit the crime. A couple months in jail and probation are way too lenient.

  • Submitted by Dorothy at:November 28, 2011 02:25 PM

    Well...a small punishment is better than no punishment! Hopefully the penalty for such cruelty will become harsher in the very near future! How are the three dogs that these criminals were forcing to fight?

  • Submitted by Joanne at:November 28, 2011 02:18 PM

    There should be stronger sentences for this crime! People who do these things to animals should NEVER be allowed to own an animal again.

  • Submitted by Benita at:November 28, 2011 02:10 PM

    3 months in jail?!?! That's it?? These psychopaths will be moving on to assaulting humans soon I'm sure. It's so sad that for all that Terry Mills is doing, these idiots walk away with a slap on the wrist.

  • Submitted by Alicia at:November 24, 2011 01:53 PM

    This is so sad.How could anyone do that to a helpless,innocent animal?

  • Captcha