Dog-fighting - 88 dogs seized in 2 states

[jella]

U.S. District Court of Missouri

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 8, 2009
County: Harrison

Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged:
» Rick P. Hihath
» Cris E. Bottcher
» Jill D. Makstaller
» Julio Reyes
» Zachary R. Connelly
» Kevin P. Tasler
» Ryan J. Tasler

Upcoming Court Dates:
» Monday, Aug 24, 2009: Trial

Case Updates: 11 update(s) available

A federal grand jury has indicted two Missouri men and five others for purportedly operating a pit bull dog-fighting ring in Northwest Missouri.

The charges, unsealed Wednesday morning, allege that Rick P. Hihath, 55, of St. Joseph, Cris E. Bottcher, 48, of Gilman City, Mo., Jill D. Makstaller, 32, of Perry, Iowa, Julio Reyes, 28, of Tecumseh, Neb., Zachary R. Connelly, 32, of Ogden, Iowa, Kevin P. Tasler, 51, of Jefferson, Iowa, and Ryan J. Tasler, 32, of Woodward, Iowa, conspired to sponsor a dog-fighting enterprise.

According to the indictment, the conspirators bet thousands of dollars on the outcome of at least three fights that occurred between late February and early May at Bottcher's farm in Gilman City, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City in Harrison County.

After an April 25 fight, Bottcher alleged used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot two dogs who had fought that night, "but did not perform to the handler's/owner's expectations," according to the indictment.

At a Feb. 28 dog fight, Connelly and Ryan Tasler purportedly discussed how they disposed of dogs they had killed after fights.

"They said they burn their dogs in a barrel so if police come to their property all the police would see are holes burned in the ground," the indictment alleged.

The indictment also alleged that Bottcher and Hihath spoke of killing dogs and throwing them in the river.

The indictment also alleged that conspirators denied "adequate and humane medical treatment" for wounds or injuries that the dogs had suffered in the fights.

Case Update

A Madrid High School teacher has lost his job after being indicted on dogfighting charges.

The Madrid School Board voted Friday to terminate Ryan Tasler’s contract, effective immediately.

Tasler was one of four Iowans arrested in a dogfighting raid. He and the other three defendants pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial on Monday.

Tasler was a science teacher and golf coach at the school.

[jella]

Four Iowans who were indicted for their alleged roles in a northwest Missouri dogfighting ring have pleaded not guilty to felony charges and are scheduled to stand trial on Aug. 24.

The pleas in a western Missouri federal court came about two weeks after authorities arrested Jill D. Makstaller of Perry; Zachary R. Connelly of Ogden; Kevin P. Tasler of Jefferson; and Ryan J. Tasler of Woodward.

Prosecutors allege that the quartet were part of a ring that would "routinely and inhumanely abandon and destroy certain pit bull dogs that became severely injured, wounded, or disabled" in the fights.

The indictment also names a Nebraska man and two alleged organizers from Missouri. The Iowa arrests stem from alleged dogfights in February, April and May at a home in Gilman City, Mo., about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City.

Participants wagered a combined $7,200 during two of the gatherings, according to the indictment. Some pit bulls were allegedly thrown in a river to conceal the operation from authorities. Others were shot in the head with a .22-caliber rifle or burned in a barrel, prosecutors allege.

During one fight, Ryan Tasler allegedly acted as a "spongeman" who wiped blood from the animals. Makstaller was a timekeeper, according to the indictment, and all of the Iowans allegedly placed bets during the matches.

Makstaller was a dog trainer at the time of her arrest who specialized in Schutzhund, a German dog sport that teaches tracking, obedience and protection skills. Ryan Tasler was a high school science teacher and golf coach in the Madrid school district.

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