A Charleston man was sentenced to two years in jail after being convicted earlier this month of dogfighting and other animal cruelty charges.
Derick A. Geiger, 45, on July 7, became the first Kanawha County resident to be convicted of dogfighting, according to a news release from the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.
Geiger was convicted by a jury of seven counts of cruelty to animals, illegal tethering and six counts of training dogs to fight. Kanawha Magistrate Mike Sisson immediately handed down the sentence.
On Nov. 18, 2015, a Charleston humane officer was dispatched to 510 Mary Street over an anonymous complaint about dogs being trained to "competitively fight in blood sports," a criminal complaint filed against Geiger states.
Seven pit bulls were found outside the home with no food or water, officer Jeffrey A. Taylor wrote in the complaint. One of the dogs had been tethered using a nearly 40 pound chain underneath the porch.
In the basement of the home, the officer found two additional dogs being kept in complete darkness, with no food or water and in cages too small for them. Those dogs had "scarring from lacerations and puncture wounds seemingly from blood sport fighting," Taylor wrote.
Multiple items used to train dogs for fighting were also found in the basement.
All of the dogs were seized from the home.
The Humane Society of the United States gives rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a dogfighter. Those with information should call 202-452-1100. All calls can be anonymous.