Arrests for Dog Fighting
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Easter egg hunts: YMCA launches Pre-K class See page 16 pilot program Glen Baptist bash targeting obesity See page 9 See page 6 75¢ APRIL 8, 2010 THURSDay ThE BakER COUNty PREss 80th Year, Vol. 48• Winner of 9 state awards for journalism excellence in 2008 7½ year Manager sentence Arrests for dog fighting residence for sales Two charged; others flee; dog fatally injured rule voided Deputies arrested two men into the woods and confronted at a north Sanderson address the suspect walking toward the of crack the evening of April 3 and truck covered with blood. by board A circuit court judge this charged them with fighting pit “It appeared to me at the week sentenced a Sanderson bulldogs, one of which was so time that the dog was a fighting JOEL ADDINgtoN man to seven and a half years in bloodied and severely injured dog that had just finished fight- NEWS EDItoR prison for a series of undercover that it had to be put down on ing,” Deputy Clark noted in his [email protected] crack cocaine sales in February the scene. report. When questioned, Mr. and May of last year. “Every time his heart beat, Gaskins said he was in the area The Baker County Com- Bryan Paige, 30, pleaded no you could see the veins, blood because the dog had gotten mission on April 6 removed a contest to squirting out,” recalled Georgia loose and he had taken it there requirement in County Man- four counts Monfort, the county’s animal for breeding purposes. ager Joe Cone’s employment of sale and control director. “He was just He denied knowledge of contract that he reside within delivery, pumping out.” anyone fleeing into the woods. the county — a provision that and a sin- One of the men, Omar Al- The officer found a loaded 9 had been waived informally for gle count dridge, 29, of Starke was also mm automatic pistol in the about three years. of posses- charged with felony child ne- front seat of the pickup. An allegation by Glen St. sion. Three glect for fleeing into nearby Deputy Clark said he then Mary resident Sharon Padgett possession woods off Circle G Lane when went to a backyard where the that Mr. Cone was violating his charges police arrived, leaving his 4- other dogs he described as “agi- contract by living in Columbia were Bryan Paige year-old son seated on a picnic tated and vicious” were tied up. County, and further by buying dropped table in the midst of 14 other The young boy was taken from a property in St. Johns County as part of the plea agreement, fighting dogs — all but one of the table and placed into a pa- last December, prompted the and two of the sales were more them restrained by chains. trol car. action. serious felonies because they Ms. Monfort said some of Deputy Clark said the boy “If you’re not going to honor were within 1000 feet of the the chained up animals had to was seated alone and when your contract, you should rene- Sanderson community center be sedated before they could asked the whereabouts of his gotiate the contract,” she told on CR 229. be taken to the animal shelter parents, replied “My daddy ran the board, calling the latest pur- He must serve a minimum of on Steel Bridge Road north of into the woods with everybody chase, “a slap in the face.” three years. Macclenny. else.” Mr. Cone is one of at least Court records show that Cletus Gaskins, 37, of Mr. Aldridge came back four county administrators that sheriff’s investigators arranged Sanderson was charged to the scene panting and reside outside the county, but for stealth buys from Mr. Paige along with Mr. Aldridge sweating and was halted Ms. Padgett singled him out for on February 20 and 28, and on with fighting animals, a by the officers when he at- his leadership role. She called May 21 and 27. He was arrested third-degree felony, and tempted to enter the rear into question both Mr. Cone’s less than one month later. mutilating or killing them, seat of the police car. He integrity for not complying with first-degree misdemean- denied that he had fled, the contract and the board’s for In other sentencings by PHOTO BY JOEL ADDINGTON Judge Phyllis Rosier on April 5, ors. Deep cuts, scarring on the face and head of this and said he left his son not taking action sooner. a former Baker County resident Deputy Larry Clark pit, one of 14 taken to the county shelter. with Mr. Gaskins when he “I shouldn’t of had to check said he responded to a went “down the road.” the contract,” Ms. Padgett said was given three years for vio- with flashlights. residence off Circle G Deputy Clark said he after the meeting. “As a board, I lating probation on two grand He first found the wounded dog in a cage about 9:00 following a then asked the father why feel they failed.” theft cases dating back to 2006 in the rear of a pickup belonging to Mr. Gas- and early 2007. report that suspicious Omar Aldridge Cletus Gaskins kins, then heard “multiple people” running See page 2» See page 2» Charles Ferguson, 28, began persons were in the area in January serving a 20-year sentence for attempted sec- ond-degree murder in a Duval County case, and the Baker County sentence runs concur- ‘Grand’ opening for new farmers market rently. Judge Rosier revoked the early probation. JOEL ADDINgtoN for fresh vegetables, which will be coming • Co-defendants Larry Holt, NEWS EDItoR in more as the year goes on. We hope to 22, of Glen St. Mary and Brad [email protected] be here every Saturday.” The farmers market, located on S. 6th Crawford, 18, of Jacksonville Annie Futch has enjoyed home-grown drew three year prison terms St. in the parking lot adjacent to Crystal produce for decades thanks to her hus- River Seafood and Peebles, is expected to followed by four years on pro- band Thomas Futch’s green thumb. And bation in return for no contest run through July, but could be extended though at 84 years old, he doesn’t grow if vendors continue to supply fresh pro- pleas to multiple counts of bur- much today, Mrs. Futch found suitable glary, grand theft and theft of duce, hand-made arts and crafts and replacements much closer to their Mac- other plants, said the nonprofit market’s firearms. clenny home last weekend at the Baker They were arrested for a co-chair Helene Guest. County Farmers Market. Three produce vendors who signed up November, 2009 theft of a resi- “It’s real handy,” she said during the dence near Cuyler during which for the market didn’t show, one due to a market’s first day April 3. “My husband family emergency. All three have com- six guns and a safe with $5000 isn’t able to garden anymore, but we used cash inside were taken. mitted to future participation, Ms. Guest to grow everything.” said. • The state is adding a fourth Mrs. Futch, 78, left the farmers market criminal charge against Mar- Six other vendors benefitted from with her arms full of onions, turnips and heavy foot traffic, however. shall Mann, 45, of Sanderson, greens. who was arrested last month on Sanderson farmers Eddie and Bett “All my husband’s got now is some Combs, for instance, sold two-thirds of one count of sexual battery on hot peppers. He plants them in a buck- a child between the ages of a 12 their vegetable plants by 10:00 am. et. That’s all he’s able to do,” said Mrs. “Our tomato plants have done re- and 16, and two counts of lewd Futch. and lascivious acts on young ally well, and the bell pepper,” said Mrs. The Madison County native Combs. girls. joined many others attending The sheriff’s department ar- The couple’s booth also contained the grand opening, which ac- okra, eggplant and watermelon plants rested Mr. Mann, 45, last week cording to organizers, patrons PHOTOS BY JOEL ADDINGTON Above, visitors browse booths during the grown in their backyard greenhouse, See page 2» and vendors alike, was success- market’s first day in operation. At left, which she said helped insulate them dur- ful. Union County farmer Doug Wilkinson tends ing this year’s unusually long winter. “I think it started out real to customers Steve and Pam Gaylord. Patrons should expect a larger va- well,” said Jim Sharpe of Jack- vegetables, family farmer Doug Wilkin- riety of produce in coming weeks as sonville, whose son helped son of Union County, saw a steady later-than-usual harvests take place. Ms. supply the morning’s musical Police nab stream of customers. His tomatoes sold Guest, a gardener herself, said squash, entertainment as part of The out within the first half hour. cucumbers, peas and peaches should be Bluegrass Breeze band. “They “Here for the first day, we didn’t know forthcoming. got everything people like in the hit-and-run what to expect,” said Mr. Wilkinson Ms. Guest said additional vendors spring time, especially the flow- shortly before the market closed. “But selling crafts and home-made furniture ers.” everything is turning out really great. The As the only vendor selling driver in people are kind and friendly and looking See page 2» bakercountypress.com COVERING BAKER COUNTY SINCE 1929 school bus The county’s most professional and extensive source for news, classified, display and real estate listings ONLINE PoLL RESULTS Yes 66.7% crash Did you check out the 904.259.2400 •• 904.259.6502 Fax Baker County Farmers www.bakercountypress.com See page 5 Market on Saturday? No 33.3% Visit our website and vote each week in our online poll.