I was fortunate enough to be a part of this, and got to add an entry to the record at sentencing. I have word that nothing I entered was published, so here you go...

Tampa couple sentenced in dog-fighting case

TAMPA - Maurice Bayless contended he wasn't engaged in dog fighting – he was simply domesticating the animals.

A judge didn't believe him, sentencing Bayless today to 30 months in prison and 30 months of probation for his role in dog fighting.

Bayless' girlfriend, Celena Brantley, was sentenced to a year in jail followed by four years of probation.

"It is obvious that what was taking place at that residence was breeding dogs for the purpose of fighting," Hillsborough Circuit Judge William Fuente said.

The couple were arrested in April 2008 after animal services inspectors and police discovered more than a dozen pit bull terriers, three scarred with dog bites, and dog-fighting paraphernalia at Bayless' South Tampa home.

At the time of his arrest, Bayless had a tattoo on his arm that read "GOING HARD DOGS FIGHTING."

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/jan/07/ta... /

With any luck, what I said before his sentencing will cause him a great deal of concern over the next bit of time.

Mmmmm...punishment.