SLED breaks up Pee Dee dog fighting ring, seizes hundreds of animals along with drugs, weapons

Editor’s note: This story describes dog fighting and its aftermath. Some may find details disturbing.

MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Authorities last week dismantled a multi-county dog fighting ring in the Pee Dee that led to more than 100 animals being seized along with large amounts of drugs and weapons.

“We are investigating dog fighting in every corner of South Carolina right now,” South Carolina Law Enforcement chief Mark Keel said at a Monday news conference, where he announced the arrests of 11 people tied to the crime at locations in Dillon and Marion counties.

. Keel said 10 search warrants were executed on April 2, and the following was recovered:

• 160 dogs
• 55 weapons
• $69,700 in cash
• 990 fentanyl pills
• 2,266 ecstasy pills
• 2 grams of ketamine
• 11 grams of crack-cocaine
• 1 kilogram of cocaine
• 11 pounds of marijuana

The following people were arrested:

• Robert Kendale Adams, 41, on charges of animal fighting, criminal conspiracy, ill treatment of animals, trafficking marijuana and possession of less than one gram of meth
• James Maurice Bethea, 50, on charges of criminal conspiracy, ill treatment of animals and animal fighting
• Anthony Dante Gause, 44, on charges of criminal conspiracy, animal fighting and ill treatment of animals
• Christopher Terrell Jordan, 32, on charges of animal fighting, ill treatment of animals, criminal conspiracy, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of certain crimes, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of crack cocaine, possession of ketamine, possession of marijuana, possession of oxycodone, possession of alprazolam, possession of a stolen pistol, trafficking cocaine, trafficking fentanyl and trafficking MDMA
• Jonathon Ja’Teil Lester, 22, on charges of animal fighting and three counts of ill treatment of animals
• Larry Darnel Mack Jr., 49, on charges of animal fighting and ill treatment of animals
• Sammy Junior McCormick, 45, on charges of animal fighting and ill treatment of animals
• Gavin Mandell Miles, 44, on charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk, animal fighting, ill treatment of animals, possession of cocaine base 2nd offense, possession of a Controlled II substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy
• Blake Alexander Rogers, 29, on charges of animal fighting and ill treatment of animals
• Tyquan Tymore Rogers, 24, on a charge of criminal conspiracy
• Wade Rodeon Shipman, 61, on a charge of criminal conspiracy

“SLED agents who work dogfighting cases routinely find guns and money, and in this case having guns and drugs unsecured where a child could have access to them,” Keel said.

Dog fighting is a felony in South Carolina, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for each count. It’s also illegal to possess associated equipment or attend an event.

Since 2023 when lawmakers created a dog fighting unit under SLED, more than 500 animals have been rescued — leading to 116 arrests on more than 470 charges, Keel said.

The problem is particularly bad in the Pee Dee, according to SLED stats. Of the 478 investigations carried out by its dog fighting unit, 203 have been in Darlington, Dillon and Marion counties — or 43%. The figure jumps to 243 when Georgetown County is included.

Neither Florence or Horry counties have had any reported dog fighting incidents over the past two years but in 2019, authorities arrested four people in Aynor and seized 18 dogs.

A gruesome battle to the death

Columbia-based veterinarian Jennifer Bonovich, who specializes in forensic examinations and often works with law enforcement, said the barbarism of dog fighting is almost impossible to comprehend for most people.

“The fights are violent, vicious and can last minutes, and they can last hours. Blood loss, punctures and teeth are torn out. Bones are crushed, fractured,” she said. “All of this while members of your community are watching, and they’re cheering. They’ve got a lot of money on who’s going to win.”

Gov. Henry McMaster, who as attorney general in the early 2000s oversaw one of the biggest dog fighting cases ever, said the blood sport is a blemish on the state he loves.

“This is an unspeakable thing that’s happening in our state,” he said. “These dogs have been raised and made into mean animals, strong and ready to fight. When they get into that pit, usually only one gets out.”

In 2010, the state’s Parole Board voted 5-2 in favor of David Tant’s release six years into a 40-year prison sentence for breeding and fighting pit bulls.

During his trial, McMaster said jurors were shown footage of dog fighting — forcing the court clerk to leave in tears.

“It’ll make you cry. I’ve seen the videos. It’ll make you mad,” McMaster said. “There’s blood and parts of animals all over that carpet. It’s as horrible as anything you’ll ever see.”

SLED and local law enforcement officials in the Pee Dee worked closely the ASPCA, who had teams on the ground to observe conditions, said CEO Matthew Bershadker.

“They found dogs that were severely underweight, some without access to food and water. Many had medical issues and scarring that is consistent with dog fighting,” he said. “These dogs are victims of the worst kind of human betrayal. Their loyalty is twisted into violence for entertainment, for profit.

Matthew McDonald, director of operations for Marion County Friends and Volunteers says dogfighting is nothing new, but it was surprising to hear how big the case is.

“It is just one of the most dismal and disappointing acts that humans put themselves involved in.”

He says he’s seen firsthand dogs left to die in the Pee Dee.

“We do see the evidence of it regularly and unfortunately, and that is obviously only scraping the surface of it.”

‘Constantly tethered’

Arrest warrants, photo and video evidence provided Monday to News13 by SLED and the ASPCA show visibly upset dogs, poor living conditions and hints of the fighting that took place around them.

The warrants also describe drugs and guns left out in the open.

Adams, for example, owned 27 dogs at a Hamer location that were “constantly tethered by heavy chains fixed to metal objects on the ground, leaving little room for movement.” Many of them were also scarred, and a dead puppy was found on his property.

Authorities charged Miles with unlawfully placing a child at risk because he was possession of narcotics and a gun at the home he shares with a juvenile, according to warrants.

Lester had a black pit bull in a shed behind his Dillon home with an “actively bleeding wound” and severe facial, chest and leg scarring, SLED said.

“It’s not just the fights that are so cruel. It’s the life in between. Dogs used in fighting live lives defined by suffering,” Bershadker said.

In his January State of the State address, McMaster asked lawmakers to give SLED an extra $500,000 to boost its dog fighting efforts.

And last year, the General Assembly approved a cost of care bill that allows nonprofits or other agencies caring for seized animals to sue their original owners as a way to offset expenses.

Bonovich, the veterinarian, said a fighting dog’s entire world is the small dirt circle created by its heavy chain — sometimes letting them come within inches of a companion and others trapping them where they stand.

“There are fates worse than death,” she said. “And that’s living this life.”

SLED says if you know of any dogfighting in your community, report it to tips@sled.sc.gov.