Madison man gets probation in dog-fighting case

A Madison County man originally charged with dogfighting in 2008 has been sentenced to 10 years of probation for possession of dog training paraphernalia, according to the prosecutor.

Johnny Stewart Johnson Jr. of Danielsville was the first man charged under a new Georgia law making dogfighting a felony in July 2008.

At the time, Madison County sheriff’s deputies said they seized seven underweight and scarred pit bulls from Johnson’s Shake Down Kennels on 2233 Georgia Highway 98, northwest of Danielsville.

He was charged with seven counts of dogfighting, under a law that became effective only a few days before, and with one count of possession of dog training paraphrenalia.

He pleaded guilty to a single count of paraphernalia possession, said District Attorney Bob Lavender, and was sentenced to probation.

The raid capped a two-month investigation, which was sparked by a call placed to a Humane Society of the United States tip line.

The new law, which made it a felony to own, possess, train, transport or sell a dog for the purpose of dogfighting, carried a one- to five-year prison sentence and a minimum fine of $5,000 or both.

Madison man gets probation in dog-fighting case || OnlineAthens.com