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

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:36 — Hill (Visitor)
GREAT JOB 2 BRONX SPCA SHOULD HAVE GOT MORE TIME10yr's

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:37 — Franco Ferrua (Visitor)
Thank you all for supporting our animal friends. And that's cominhg from a criminal defense attorney. But as sick as he is, don't worry, he"ll be forced into a gang in prison, at least beaten if not sodomized. Mandatory minimums without early release are the answer. Please try to be a vegetarian or at least eat free range meat and donate to ASPCA and Peta. Besr wishes to all uou kind people.0

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:38 — September (Visitor)
I believe, dog fighters need to face more time for their crimes. All the animal abusers should face at least 5 years in a penitentiary in my opinion due to the severity of the crime. Hurting another life for their enjoyment is just not ok and morally wrong.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:39 — Bonnie Williams (Visitor)
I think his sentence should have included some kind of supervised work with dogs...not the easy stuff that "what's his name" football player received but something really demanding.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:39 — Truman Tench (Visitor)
Should be thrown under the jail. Sentence not tough enough.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:40 — Kimberly Fordham (Visitor)
Unfortunately, the animals involved in these despicable crimes are always forgotten....look at mike vick for example, he's moved on and makes more money now, more famous and all....now he legally can own another dog! i'm glad that he did receive some punishment but of course it's not long enough, basically a slap on the wrist. what about these poor inncoent animals that are trained and hurt and killed during these ridiculous fights? i just wish the government, the public and the media would just get tougher on animal cruelty and stop being so damn soft and felling sorry for the accused and not the innocent victims!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:40 — Pam Cross (Visitor)
One year for cruelty to animals. One year for the illegal weapon. Served concurrently. Slap on the wrist. At the very least they could have made the sentences consecutive! People who engage in dog fighting aren't phased by such a light sentence. They don't even think being arrested is a big deal; just the cost of doing business. When do we up the "cost" to make them think a little more?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:40 — Franco Ferrua (Visitor)
My apologies for above typos, LOL

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:41 — Marlene Todd (Visitor)
I'm glad he is getting jail time......I wish he was going to be in jail longer.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:41 — Tonya Howard (Visitor)
I'm glad he got prison time but not nearly enough. He should charged for each individual dog in addition to a longer sentence and a lifetime ban on animals.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:41 — Patty (Visitor)
Not only more time.. but he should be treated like he treated the dogs.. that many dogs in a basement.. and then made to force to fight as a way of life.. treat him as inhumane as they were.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:41 — Dave McCracken (Visitor)
NOT ENOUGH TIME. STRICTER LAWS NEEDED!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:42 — Kathleen Leavitt (Visitor)
I so agree with everyone else that this is not enough time for this horrendous crime. I believe there should be a mandatory sentence per animal and a monetary fine for each dog which would then be donated to the ASPCA for their care. Just in the case of Michael Vick, wonder how he would have taken a fine of $1 Million Dollars for every dog he killed!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:42 — Mark Sonder, CSEP (Visitor)
Seems like anything less than the death penalty, as this is what his dogs are in for, is too lenient!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:43 — Dsve (Visitor)
When I saw the headline I was expecting to see 10 or 15 years, especially with the weapon charge thrown in. For a person who lives in a criminal lifestyle and is used to these risks the small amount of time this guy got is nothing. He probably feels lucky because he got off so easily and will be out in no time. I keep hearing about the hard time in New York for guns but the judge let him run the weapons and all the abuuse charges together?? I can't help but think the judge did that because in the judge's mind it was "only dogs." He probably would have gotten more time if he had been caught with a deck of cards and a gun or a crack pipe than a whole bunch of abused animals. Only the good people who have not been in prison or who can't imagine going think this is hard time, for bad bad people like this it is just a game. We have to change that somehow, because the way our society respects itself starts with the way we respect and care for those who rely on us in nature.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:45 — Ann (Visitor)
"...will serve these sentences concurrently..." That is just wrong..... The judge did not think this was wrong at all. So for dog fighting, animal cruelty AND criminal possession of a weapon , he got 1-3 years. He will be out in a year or less. I'm starting to see just how crime pays in America.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:46 — cindy (Visitor)
An earlier article mentioned he may get deported back to Cuba once he's served his sentence. Not great for Cuba, but at least there seems to be a little more riding on his parole/release. Sadly, the threat of deportation is probably all this guy cares about.....

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:46 — Matthew P (Visitor)
This is a start, but no where near the punishment he should get. This needs to stop. Like all violence. The punishment is not harsh enough to deter dirtbags from committing there crimes again.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:48 — Tami Brody (Visitor)
We have a rescue that was used as a bait dog. We spoil him, love him, hug him and kiss him daily. He's been with us for 11 years now and still has trouble with certain aspects of life. I believe that it should be an eye for an eye, whatever the crime is if people had to endure what they dish out I believe there would be a whole lot less of that crap going on.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:50 — Linda Szymoniak (Visitor)
Another slap on the wrist. Two one-year sentences, but served concurrently, he'll be in jail a maximum of one year, and more likely out in 8-9 months. Maybe less. Once he's out, he'll likely just start fighting dogs again. He should be in jail for at least five years for the dogfighting charge, and have multiple one-year sentences - one for each case of animal abuse they can prove and they should NOT be served concurrently!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:50 — melody (Visitor)
Dip him in blood with his hands and feet tied. Then let the animals give him a taste of his own medicine. But animals make better humans than people do. They have such amazing forgiving hearts. I, on the other hand, am just a human. So I ask why are we wasting our time and recourses on such filth. He doesn't deserve to live. If you can't see that animals have a soul then maybe it's because you don't have one.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:04 — Andrew Tarr (Visitor)
Couldn't agree more. Except that it should happen every single day for an amount of time equal to how long he's been running his concentration camp.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:50 — John Lambert (Visitor)
CONSECUTIVE, not concurrent sentencing is a much better deterrant

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:51 — Sarah Auclair (Visitor)
Someone may have already said it, but I think he should have been charged with 50 counts of animal cruelty, and received at least 50 years - 1 year for every animal they took out of the living hell!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:52 — margaret wainik... (Visitor)
he SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO OWN ANY ANIMAL FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. WHATS WRONG WITH THAT STUPID JUDGE?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:52 — Laurene (Visitor)
I don't know what the precedents are for sentences. Is this better or worse? Don't alot of people get into this for money? What about financial penalty? He probably made money doing it. Can money made from illegal activity be recouped to care for the rescued dogs or support dog rehab?

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:53 — Chris (Visitor)
SCUM like this should NEVER EVER be allowed to own ANY animal for the REST OF THEIR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!! They should not even be allowed to live in the same property where an animal lives.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:53 — Darlene Pavek (Visitor)
We need to get a partition going and have everyone sign it for longer jail time for these idiots. They should have the same punishment as others that kill. To me, my dog is my child, and if someone hurt my child, I'm affraid I would have to hurt them.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:54 — nick graziano (Visitor)
Now this pile of human waist will get to spend some quality time with his father and brothers...prison has a way of bringing degenerate families closer together.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:54 — Flo Thompson (Visitor)
I agree with most of the comments, especially the ones that the guilty person should NEVER be allowed to have another animal. I adopted a former bait dog and she is the love of my life, but after nine years of TLC still has a few issues with fear. She loves every human being on this earth, fortuanately, me the most!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:54 — Brigid (Visitor)
I am so thrilled to see that people who are cruel to animals are beginning to do more time for these horrific crimes!!!! I am also happy to see that they can never own animals again. They certainly doesn't deserve the honor of housing a furr face!!!! I can't imagine my life without my 4 legged family members...♥

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:57 — Brigid (Visitor)
I read that wrong...wow..it should be he never have an animal for the rest of his life..!! tisk tisk.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:55 — Le (Visitor)
THE NEXT THING HE'LL CAGE UP IN HIS BASEMENT IS A CHILD. 1-3 YEARS WHAT A JOKE OF A SYSTEM THIS IS.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:58 — Lynne Jones (Visitor)
This, as always, is still too light a sentence. What is this world coming to when we see so many abusing these beautiful animals that are our companions - dogs, cats, and horses. There are too many people abusing animals for their own gain and it's too bad we can't take them and drop them off in the middle of Dealth Valley and see how they would fare. A drop from a hugh helicopter would be perfect. Our animals would be much safer and probably society as a whole. Thank you ASPCA for saving these dogs. If the picture you show is one of the dogs, he is beautiful. May he find a new loving home that will shower him with kisses and more kisses. There are so many of these animals that I would love to save but like others, I wasn't given the means to do it. God Bless all who work to save and give these animals the love, compassion, and good homes they so deserve.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 11:58 — Andrew Tarr (Visitor)
That's basically a sentence of 1 to 3 WEEKS per victim. Anything less than 15 years with no chance of early release for this evil monster is a sickening miscarriage of justice. When are we as a society going to get serious about putting a stop to the horror we allow defenseless creatures to endure at the hands of scumbags like Raul Sanchez? I totally agree with the commenter who suggested Sanchez's photo be posted so that he can be dealt with correctly by a vigilante with a crowbar.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:01 — Shae (Visitor)
Why is it so damned hard to have laws that can actually STOP THIS ENTIRELY??? Strong penalties for animal cruelty would end it would it not????? Why not start there?? It's simply a "no-brainer"!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:01 — Audrey Kopecky (Visitor)
Anyone imprisoned for cruelty to animals should be made, upon release, to register as animal abusers, the same as sexual predators, and to tell his neighbors where he lives. Dogfighter=dickless.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:02 — Judy (Visitor)
Hey, I agree he murdered many dogs I am sure. Why is there not a murder conviction for animals....cruelty does not really say it all. Does this mean when a human is murdered it is cruel and not really death? Death penalty needs to be added for dog fighters!!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:03 — Libby Smith (Visitor)
Not enough time, just a slap on the wrist. And MIchael Vick got a dog(supposedly for his son) after he got out of jail and has resumed his charmed life. REALLY? What does it take? Dog fighters are cruel, mean people. They are scary and need help. Maybe they were abused themselves, don't know, but can they be rehabed? Not sure, but the point is we, and their victims need to be protected from them.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:04 — dogs (Visitor)
I have a german shepherd and a yellow labrador.I love them so much.I rescued the labrador and raised the german shepherd from a puppy.I would do anything for them including putting my own life at risk for them.every holiday I buy them presents just like how I get presents.the only difference is I don't get dog treats or dog toys as presents.I make sure I play with them more than two hours a day and I take care of them but they pay me back with love.I can't think about anybody abusing dog.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:05 — S Bennett (Visitor)
He's a dog "KILLER', not fighter and should be sentenced as a "KILLER." He tortured and murdered dogs to get his rocks off and make a few bucks. Hopefully some of his fellow cons are log lovers.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:06 — ohenkle (Visitor)
Should be a mandatory 5 years w/no early release minimum. And 10 years probation following that.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:07 — Judy (Visitor)
The sentence is not strong enough. He should serve more and should be banned from ever owning animals.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:07 — Czerny A. (Visitor)
To lowlifes like Raul Sanchez, 1-3 years (and out in 18 months) is a taxpayer-paid vacation where he'll get 3 hots and a cot and hang out with the homies. He'll learn from them how not to get caught when he resumes his operations.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:09 — jean (Visitor)
why should his sentence run concurrently? why not one after the other. then he would spend at least 5 years behind bars. and that bit about no animals while on parole?? what parole why automatically assume he will get parole!!! what a pud!!!

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:28 — RON (Visitor)
they shouldn't get less than 5 yrs plus lose their poperty

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:10 — JBolan (Visitor)
I agree with all of the above, that this scumbag did not get a fraction of the time he deserved. The punishment does not fit the crime(s). Further, only banning Sanchez from having animals for the duration of his parole is appalling. It would be more appropriate to ban him from having/keeping animals for the rest of his natural life...and enforcing it! People like Sanchez typically do not change. In fact, their cruelty often escalates. We must do whatever we can to push for tougher animal cruelty laws, as well as enforcement of said laws and harsher punishments for offenders. Just as we try to protect defenseless children from predators with the sex offender registry, we should do the same to protect helpless animals by establishing an animal cruelty offender registry. Even those who do not care for animals as much as we do should realize that someone who can look into the pleading eyes of an animal and do them harm is very likely to have no problem doing the same to a child. There is a reason that violent criminals typically have multiple charges. Something must be done to either truly rehabilitate people, or simply not let them out of prison only to offend again. Write your members of Congress about such matters whenever you can. Look out for things that just don't seem right in your community, and intervene within reason if you see something bad happening to an animal or any other being who cannot defend his or her self. We all owe it to each other and to the animals who love us.

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:10 — Patricia (Visitor)
"There's a special place in Hell for those who abuse Animals and Children. Timothy 4:4 "May the Lord repay him according to his works."

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:10 — crazyboxerlove (Visitor)
I think this is a good start, however, I agree that the punishment should fit the crime. I know it is mean, but maybe he can be put in a room and be used as training for Police dogs (padding optional). That would teach him a lesson....

Fri, 02/15/2013 - 12:11 — Jody (Visitor)
Should put him in the same basement let all the dogs get him... an eye for an eye. That's what I believe. But if we have to do it legally, the judge sentence him too much more time and 1 dog bite on his body per dog he made fight. I also think he should be fine 250,000 dollars.

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