Fri Jan 14, 8:44 AM ET
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A pit bull enthusiast who sold videos of dogfights and dogs attacking a pig became the first person on Thursday to be convicted under a federal law banning depictions of cruelty to animals, prosecutors said.
Robert Stevens, 64, of Pittsville, Virginia, was found guilty in a Pittsburgh court of selling three videos a jury decided violated the ban on depicting the intentional maiming, mutilation or torture of animals or any wounding or killing.
Under the law, signed by President Bill Clinton (news - web sites) in 1999, prosecutors must also prove such videos have no serious educational, historical or scientific value.
Stevens who runs a company called Dogs of Velvet and Steel, also sold "break sticks" and "spring poles," which are used to condition pit bulls for fighting. Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states.
Stevens advertised the videos in an underground dog-fighting paper called the Sporting Dog Journal, which reports the results of illegal dog fights. He was caught by undercover law enforcement officials posing as customers.
"This dangerous and inhumane crime promotes violence and degrades our community," said Mary Beth Buchanan, U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania, in a statement after the verdict. "Justice has been done in a very serious case."
U.S. District Judge Alan Bloch also banned Stevens from owning, breeding, training or selling pit bulls or possessing any device used in dog fighting. The court rejected Stevens' argument that banning the videos denied his First Amendment rights of free speech.
Stevens faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $750,000. His sentencing was set for April 21.
You are comparing apples to oranges. What in sam hill does the story you just posted have to do with the cat frozen to the fence? I can answer that question--nothing. Absolutely nothing. I challenge you to find a connection. The cat frozen to the fence was not put there by humans trying to be cruel. It got there on its own. Big difference between that and the animal cruelty video story. It's called logic--look into it.
A cat ACCIDENTLY got stuck on a fence. It wasn't nailed there by some sicko, it got there on it's own. It was rescued by Granny and her kids. Other than some stiffness that will probably go away, it is comfortable and in a safe place. Due to the news story that most animals do not have benefit of, it will probably go to a wonderful home. Someone read the story and laughed. Now we have postings about animal torture??? Bait dogs and pitbulls? Come on! I rescue animals. Have 6 dogs right now. I have pulled HUNDREDS of dogs from the pound. I laughed when I read the story. I laughed because animals get themselves in the silliest of circumstances, and no harm was done. It was funny. Relax a little.