Georgia Man Sentenced To 475 Years In Prison For Dogfighting After 107 Dogs Rescued From Property

A Georgia man has been sentenced to nearly 500 years in prison for facilitating dogfighting after more than 100 abused dogs were found on his property in 2022, officials said.

Vincent Lemark Burrell, 57, was found guilty of 93 counts of dog fighting and 10 counts of cruelty to animals after a four-day jury trial that ended Jan. 30. He received the maximum possible sentence of 475 years in prison. It is believed to be the longest sentence for dogfighting.

“The average person doesnt realize how prevalent dog fighting still is. But the more we talk about this issue and educate the public, the more people will understand that dogs arent just property, and you cannot treat them in this way,” Chief Trevor Hess of the Paulding County Marshal Bureau said in a statement. “We appreciate the District Attorneys Office for taking this case on, recognizing it as a serious case, and holding the defendant accountable. Dog fighting is a felony crime and must be investigated and prosecuted as such.”

The investigation began when an Amazon delivery driver reported seeing numerous dogs tied to fence posts with heavy chains on Burrell’s property. Investigators say the dogs were chained close to each other but “just out of reach” in order to build their aggression.

The Paulding County Sheriffs Office and the Paulding County Marshals Office executed a search warrant at Burrell’s property on Nov. 8, 2022, and found 107 dogs that did not have access to food or water. Most were tied up with heavy logging chains, and most were underweight.

Investigators also found items associated with dogfighting, including a treadmill designed for dogs, a breeding stand, a “break stick” used to pry open a dog’s jaws during a fight, a kit used for treating dogs injured in fights, medications only used by licensed veterinarians, and contracts for the sale of dogs.

The Paulding County Animal Shelter initially took custody of the dogs, which were then seized by Special Agent Douglas Bridges with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General. The dogs were subsequently taken to a rescue organization.

“Dog fighters operate hidden in plain sight, in an organized, criminal enterprise that includes breeding and selling dogs, training dogs, hosting and spectating violent fights, and fighting dogs to the point of exhaustion or serious injury. It is a despicable activity that is incredibly cruel to the dogs,” said Animal Crimes Resource Prosecutor Jessica K. Rock, Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia. “By prosecuting dog fighters, we bring this underground world to light, ensure that these dogs receive the justice they deserve, and work toward someday completely eradicating this crime.”

The Paulding County District Attorney’s Office shared photos of one of the surviving dogs, named Baby Shark, with Rock and the lead prosecutor on the case, K.C. Pagnotta.

“Let this be a clear message that Paulding County will not accept or condone the inhumane treatment of animals – especially the violence and abuse associated with dog fighting,” Pagnotta said. “It is time as a society that we step up and stop the abuse and mistreatment of innocent animals. Ordinary citizens can play a part in stopping the abuse of animals by recognizing signs of dog fighting and reporting concerns to law enforcement.”

Paulding County Sheriff Ashley Henson is asking anyone with information about dogfighting or similar activities in the county to call 911 or leave an anonymous tip at 770-443-3047 or on the Paulding Sheriffs Office app.