The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Lynch gets probation
Police discovered 17 bloodied dogs during raid
By Austen Smith, Editor
PUBLISHED: March 20, 2008
Convicted dogfighter Ricky Lee Lynch was sentenced to five years probation after pleading down to one felony count in a March 6 sentencing.
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The Ypsilanti Township resident was the target of a four-month long, undercover investigation after investigators received a tip about possible dogfighting on the property. Investigators found 17 pit bulls, all bloodied and scarred with injuries consistent with dogfighting, photographs, videos and other paraphernalia from Lynch's property during a June 15 raid.
Lynch originally was charged with nine counts of felony dogfighting, and his conviction marked just the second dogfighting case brought to justice in Washtenaw County within the last eight years.
Tanya Hilgendorf, executive director of the Humane Society of Huron Valley, said Lynch's sentencing was stiffer than Michael Alan Dalton, of Belleville, who was sentenced to just two years probation in December of last year.
"We always hope for the stiffest penalties and fines possible," Hilgendorf said. "We think that dogfighting, in particular, is a very cruel blood sport. The community needs to do everything it can to stop it. By punishing the individual, it sends a loud and clear message to all other dogfighters this is not a place where they can get away with that."
The probation sentence carried a number of stipulations including no contact with animals for the five-year period. Hilgendorf said Lynch would have received a heftier sentence but the judge was restricted by state sentencing guidelines.
"It's our understanding the fact (Lynch ) had no prior record, that he was not eligible for jail time," Hilgendorf said.
She said Lynch's sentencing did not send that "loud and clear message," the Humane Society was hoping for and that she would have liked to see Lynch serve jail time.
"But that has to be said with the caveat that the judge was only following state sentencing guidelines, but nonetheless dogfighting is a cruel and violent offense and it should be taken seriously," Hilgendorf said.
State Rep. Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, is working with local animal cruelty investigators such as the HSHV to enact House Bill 6095, which would amend existing law to allow a maximum $5,000 fine for felony dogfighting convictions.
"The individual or individuals who are committing these crimes deserve harsh punishment," Byrnes said in a May 2006 press release.
The legislation was result of the investigation into the March 2006 case where a number of decapitated pit bulls were found around Superior Township. That case is still under investigation.
"I am really proud of the work we have done and will continue to do," Hilgendorf said.
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