NM dog-fighting case dismissed against brothers

Posted at: 11/13/2009 8:36 AM
By: The Associated Press

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A judge has dismissed all charges against twin brothers who were accused of running a dogfighting breeding operation in Chaparral.

Tuesday's order by state District Judge Lisa Schultz dropped 50 combined counts of dog fighting, animal cruelty and conspiracy against Daron and Duryea Scott of El Paso, Texas.

Since the charges were dismissed with prejudice, prosecutors cannot refile the case.

The dismissal came after the state Court of Appeals in September upheld an earlier district court ruling throwing out all evidence in the case.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Susan Riedel says that without the evidence - including the dogs and photographs - there is no case.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Print Story