Bronx Dog Fighter Sentenced to Hard Time

Monday, February 11, 2013 - 3:30pm
Bronx Dog Fighter Sentenced to Hard Time

The dogs rescued from a Bronx dog fighter’s basement last year are finally getting justice. Raul Sanchez, who pleaded guilty to dog fighting a few weeks ago, is now heading to prison.

Last week a judge sentenced Sanchez to one to three years for animal fighting, one year for animal cruelty and one year for criminal possession of a weapon. (Sanchez will serve these sentences concurrently.)

He’s also been slapped with a ban on keeping animals for the duration of his parole. Sanchez waived his right to appeal.

We hope Sanchez’s sentence serves as a reminder to dog fighters that their crimes against innocent animals carry serious consequences.

Tags: 
Animal Cruelty
Dog Fighting
NYC

Comments

Thu, 02/14/2013 - 21:27 — Tina (Visitor)
NOT ENOUGH TIME...

Thu, 02/14/2013 - 21:58 — Beatrice Eldrup... (Visitor)
Animals are a blessing from God especially our companion animals. God also commands us to take of them. It is no coincidence that they effect our health and blood pressure in a good way, visit the elderly in nursing homes, horses that carry the handicapped, seeing eye dogs and dogs that assist the handicapped.. I could go on and on. Do people do even half of what some of these animals do? Our justice system is screwed up but there is someone much larger and more important watching and judging. I would not want to have to answer to him on that day regarding his creatures if I were this person.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 09:31 — Joyce Scarborough (Visitor)
1-3 yrs - that's all?? No fine either?? and a ban on having animals while on parole?? Unbelievable. This guy should have been given 1 to 3 yrs for EACH dog that they found in the basement plus a fine of at least $1000.00 per dog, too. And he's not to have any animals while on parole? How about NO Animals FOR LIFE!! This is NOT going to discourage any other dog fighters I'm afraid. More SEVERE laws & sentences need to be made & enforced! The innocent dogs voices need to be heard!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:50 — Karen (Visitor)
It's a beginning but we still need much stricter laws (and enforce them) for these scum of the earth.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:51 — Tanya (Visitor)
Good job ASPCA! He deserves a harder sentance, but if a good start, it sends a message.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:51 — Trish (Visitor)
I am glad to see that this low life is not getting away with yes. Hopefully, it will send a message to others who paricipate in this barbaric crime, but what about the dogs. Will they be saved and reabilitated? That too an important piece of this.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:54 — Ryan (Visitor)
Lifetime ban on owning any animals. He shouldn't be allowed to have a pet rock.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:54 — Jo (Visitor)
Is everyone deaf? Six stories of residents and this goes on! I don't get it.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:54 — Tina (Visitor)
Really only 2 years for the abuse of 50 dogs!!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:55 — Brooklyn Grant (Visitor)
I still wish these so called people got stiffer sentences and they should NEVER be allowed to own animals for the duration of their lives. I hope one of the first things he faces is a fight that his life depends on. Love my Pittie girl and cant even think about some scum like him fighting her.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:55 — Suzanne (Visitor)
They rescued 50 dogs from him. Why isn't that 50 counts of animal cruetly?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:55 — Chris (Visitor)
Think ill get myself locked up at the same time as this guy, I'll dress in a dog uniform and fuck him every day till he kills himself, I ain't gay but will do this for the justice of the dogs he's harmed.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:56 — Deborah Stephenson (Visitor)
Like pretty much everyone else here who loves dogs, I feel this "sentence" is a joke. After serving his few months (because you KNOW he won't do the entire time inside prison, and will be on the streets on parole in no time flat) this guy won't think twice about doing this again. I can't believe he was ot given a lifetime ban against having any animals in his "care"! That is the unkindest cut of all. The only hope that he will get anything close to what he deserves is if the animal lovers inside the prison (and there are probably more of them in there than you might think) give him a taste of his own medicine. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for some genuine justice.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:56 — Donna Trumbower (Visitor)
I must say that I think when a person is convicted of something like this they should be banned from owning an animal for life. In Australia all animals have to be registered, yearly. You registration fee is less if your animal is neutered and you have to have a permit if you plan to keep more than 2 dogs in your household... Something to consider... we could then track animal homes, link to criminial charges and have one central repository that could be checked before any person took home a pet. Your ID has to be shown, your details are looked up and the animal registered against your name. The US lacks laws...in particular ones that are enforced. They seem to focus on murders and guns and thats where minds are focused. There needs to be more, a proactive approach to preventing it from happening in the first place, a deterent. Without a doubt there needs to be something because there appears to be a considerable amount of people in this country that dont have the skillset to work out right from wrong themselves.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:57 — Jody (Visitor)
I hope he had to give up other dog fighters to get such a low sentence!! He will be out in no time and start all over again these type of people do not change!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:58 — Diana (Visitor)
The jail time is okay but they need to be hit hard in the pocketbook. I believe heavy fines would hurt more than a few months in jail

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:58 — Mr. Bean (Visitor)
This is just a slap on the wrist... It will up his street cred... and get him more dog fighting business once he gets out of jail. This is messed up.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:59 — Veronica Goddard (Visitor)
this is great news; now for the rest of the lowlife perpetrators of cruelty.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:59 — Jenny (Visitor)
I think he should be forced to fight his fellow prisoners to the death using only razor blades.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 10:59 — tammy (Visitor)
Why should he be left sit in jail and then our tax dollars pay for him to be there! He should be put in the ring with professional boxers and used as their practice dummy day after day and not get paid for it!! I'm sure they wouldn't mind!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:00 — Anita Hartmann (Visitor)
Not long enough. We need much stiffer penalties to serve as a deterant!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:00 — Janie Gutierrez (Visitor)
I think they should give him more time. As far as having or being able to have another pet/animal. He should not be able to have any pets for the duration of his entire life.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:01 — Gil (Visitor)
He should get an 18 months prong collar hanging sentence

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:01 — Carol Reinhard (Visitor)
All these sentences for abuse of animals are a joke!!! There is never a long enough sentence for any of these people. And, as soon as they get out, they will just start all over again because the sentences are so damn short. In addition, they should never be aloud to have animals again for the remainder of their lives. Not just until they are off probation. Something needs to be done here. If this were happening to people, sentences would be much longer. I realize a lot of people say "they are just animals" but you know what . . . . these are defenseless animals who don't have a clue what is going on. They are just trying to stay alive!!!! I vote that all these dog fighting people should be put in a ring and us people should be allowed to do to them what they are doing to these poor defenseless animals. That would truly be justice. Let them suffer in agony before they die and have us cheer them on. See how they like it!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:01 — JCT (Visitor)
I'm glad he's at least getting "something", although it's not nearly enough time. But let this be a lesson to others out there who take part in dog fighting. He should be banned from owning animals for LIFE, because he's not sorry he did it, he's sorry he got caught.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:02 — lyn (Visitor)
When it comes to cruelty they should be rtreated just as they behaved. give him the chair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:02 — Sunnie (Visitor)
These people are cruel and brutal by nature,they don't change; how about a stint in an experimental lab? At least the good citizens of the state wouldn't be paying for their up keep.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:03 — Gary L. Stokes (Visitor)
He's just getting a slap on the wrist....he should have 20 yrs. in prison and banned from having a pet for the rest of his life!!! There should be a published list, just like child molesters, that shows all the bastards that are convicted of such barbaric crimes!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:05 — Terry Terreteta (Visitor)
He DID NOT GET HIS JUST REWARDS!!! What he did get is a roof over his head,3 meals a day and no bills to worry about!!All paid by tax payers!!This is not sending a message to these people who fight dogs.They need to get more time!! My daughter's dog was stolen right out of her yard by dog fighters in South Carolina!!The authorites there are doing nothing about it!!My 6 year old grandson is heart broken!! They call this justice for all the dog lives and the owners lives this guy screwed up fair!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:06 — Theresa (Visitor)
It's a start but I think he should have gotten more time. If it had be a person he would have and dog are as good as humans maybe even better because they love you unconditionaly.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:07 — Jnet (Visitor)
Thank you Judge! Hopefully even stricter laws will be enacted that will keep this man from EVER owning a dog,or any animal, again and keep him on parole for years to come. Anyone whose conscience has abandoned them to this extent is probably not capable of true empathy. Whether it's a lack of prefrontal cortex development or damage or a tumor on the amygdala or what have you, let's keep these sociopaths from becoming repeat offenders and from EVER hurting another animal.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:07 — Susan (Visitor)
How sad that torture of a helpless animal is worth only 3 years! Until this is changed, and taken more seriously, the abuse will not stop. I do agree with the person who suggested that this a_ _ have to work in a program with animals.....and should never be allowed to own one again. He is not worthy.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:07 — Kim Schutz (Visitor)
Mississippi needs strict laws like this. We have tons of operations like this throught out State.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:08 — Kathy Kron (Visitor)
1-3 years is laughable! He should get that much for each dog!!!! I hope this at least hits the major headlines of all the newspapers and local tv stations to alert all the other criminals who take part in this horrendous "enterprise". I wish all the animal organizations would pool reward money for anyone to call in an anonymous tip regarding dog fighting. Someone must have heard barking coming from that basement for years and yet no one came forward. They are afraid of retaliation. Make the reward substantial and anonymous and I think we could make a significant dent.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:08 — Micheal Moffat (Visitor)
protect life, prosecute those that seek to destroy our shared home and our fellow beings life has value beyond measure Peace and Love *********** WALL OF SHAME ************ ┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬ ┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬ ┬┴┬┴┬┴ The Wall ┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴ ┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬ ┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴┬┴ DEMOLISH ------>>>>> THIS WALL !!!! DEMAND FREEDOM, FOR ALL THE WORLD!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:08 — Red (Visitor)
I wish he would get more time in prison. Hopefully there will be some males in jail that love animals and will torture the hell out of him. Too bad the dogs can't get a hold of him for payback. He should also NEVER be allowed to have animals. Payback is a bitch.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:08 — Diann Jacobson (Visitor)
THE PUNISHMENT IS NEVER BAD ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE STOP DOING IT. IF WE PUT HIM IN WITH ANIMALS TEARING HIM APART I WONDER IF PEOPLE WOULD STOP. THE PUNISHMENT IS NOT BAD ENOUGH.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:09 — dorothy/howard ... (Visitor)
ludicrous.....the judicial sytem is sorely(no pun intended).... lacking. when will it become part of the solution instead of part of the problem...these cruel monster dog fighters and owners have nothing to fear....a few months (maybe) in return for the "I did it"!!!!! Laws must be stricter and the sentences enforced as public demands....

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:09 — Mr Concurrent (Visitor)
People please read. He's not getting up to 5 years. That's consecutive. He's serving his as concurrent, which means he serves all three at exactly the same time. They don't add up to make 5 years.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:10 — Lori (Visitor)
Obviously the punishment handed down to this low life is not good enough. He needs to be slapped with a harsher sentence, it seems like the justice system is still not taking these creeps serious. These beautiful dogs suffer so much and end up dying a tragic death. This monster needs to have the book thrown at him and hopefully he will get what he deserves in jail. Beaten up, torn apart just like these poor dogs suffered. Life is not fair and the justice system is still not fair. They need to realize that an animal's life so much more precious then what they think. These dogs need justice and this is not good enough. Until the justice system really punishes these animal abusers the way they should be punished, animal abusers will not take them serious.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:10 — Redaphrodite (Visitor)
I guess it's a start. However, if we as a country had a more strict law enforcement we would see our crimes over all drop. Learn from countries who are doing it right. For example Singapore

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:10 — JEANNE T. (Visitor)
Yeah, this is a start... but, he should be banned for LIFE for not having any dogs !!! AND needs at least 10 YEARS IN PRISION for the damage he has done to who knows how many dogs !!! UNFORGIVABLE !!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:11 — Lindy (Visitor)
This is definitely not near enough time. These poor dogs go through hell.. he should, too..

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:12 — Mark (Visitor)
I believe people who do this should serve a minimum sentence of 5 years. Usually these people have begun hurting animals at a very young age and eventually it progresses to other people. Get them off the streets.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:13 — Lisa (Visitor)
This piece of crap should of gotten more time....maybe they should have prison fights in jails, treat prisoners like they did to thes poor dogs---laws need to be stiffer!!!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:13 — Jeff (Visitor)
I am happy they put this thug in prison, but for my taste, it is much too short a sentence. You can get 30 years for credit card fraud as I understand, so for this in my opinion they should put the thug in a pen, tie his ass up and turn loose a few hungry and angry pitbulls on him. See how well he handles that. Next time maybe he will decide its not worth it. Putting him in prision for a year with free meals and lodging is too damn nice as far as I am concerned.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:14 — Mary (Visitor)
There is something broken inside these people who get pleasure from dogfighting or any animal abuse. They can't be fixed by an insignificant sentence. He should NEVER be allowed to be around animals again. PS: humans are animals, too.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:14 — Denise (Visitor)
He should have gotten 20 years! Should be covered in their blood and the dogs turned loose on him. I think this would make others like him reconsider the next dog fight they plan!! People like this guy should be drawn and quartered!! Just my thoughts and I am not a violent person, I just hate it when man harms animals.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:14 — Gabriele (Visitor)
Those sentences should NOT run concurrently. The sentence needs to to be long -- and really sting just like the cuts, teeth marks and infections those poor animals were subject to because of his complete lack of caring for the dogs in his care.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:14 — taylor rosenberg (Visitor)
I agree with the previous comments: not enough jail time and he should be forbidden from ever, ever owning animals for the rest of his life

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