Ypsilanti Township man sentenced to 10 months in jail for selling dogs for fighting
The second man arrested in an undercover investigation aimed at rooting out dog fighting in Washtenaw County will spend the next 10 months in the Washtenaw County Jail.
B.J. Jarrell, 33, was convicted of selling two animals to undercover investigators with the Humane Society of Huron Valley late last year for the purposes of dog fighting.
Court records show he pleaded guilty as charged to two counts of possessing animals for dog fighting just before his jury trial was to begin in late September. Jarrell faced up to four years in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors agreed to drop one count of animal cruelty and did not pursue habitual-offender charges.
Circuit Judge Donald Shelton agreed not to send Jarrell, who has three felony and five misdemeanor convictions, to prison as part of the plea deal. Sentencing guidelines called for up to 17 months incarceration.
Shelton said he decided to jail Jarrell because of his continued run-ins with the law, said Matt Schaecher, lead investigator with the Humane Society.
“He basically said that he had been sentencing him for crimes since B.J. was 17, and that he wasn’t ‘getting it,’” Schaecher said.
Jarrell said he never meant to hurt the animals and asked for leniency.
Jarrell was on probation when charges were filed in April because of a prior domestic violence conviction. He was also ordered to pay more than $1,000 in fines and court costs, but no restitution because his business partner, Daniel Ryback, acknowledged owning the dogs.
Investigators answered an online ad for pit bull puppies for sale and purchased two dogs after multiple discussions and negotiations last December. During those discussions, Ryback and Jarrell made reference to the animals’ championship bloodline and made other references to dog fighting characteristics, officials said.
Ryback, 33, received the maximum 90-day jail sentence in September on charges that were negotiated down to a misdemeanor.
He and Jarrell join Brian Adams as local men jailed for animal abuse since August.
Adams, 27, was sentenced to 11 months in jail in August for nearly starving a pit bull puppy to death at his Pittsfield Township home earlier this year.
Schaecher said animal cruelty investigators have been involved in 30 criminal prosecutions, including pending cases, in 2010. They had three total last year.
“We’re definitely stepping up our efforts to address animal abuse and neglect wherever it occurs in the county,” he said. “We’re grateful for the recent judgments and hopefully it will send a message that this kind of activity is just not worth it.”
Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Laura
Mon, Dec 6, 2010 : 11:29 a.m.
So sad and tragic. Laura Quebbemann
rrt911
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 8:52 a.m.
When is elective process due to be voted on again? Did you really need to plea this down? Really? Do you care what your constiuents think Mr. Shelton? Not so honorable to me.
njneere
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 9:09 a.m.
Total setup. The guy cropped the dogs ears himself, and just said "they were killers" but he was not talking about fighters, just protectors. Someone bent the story fairly far and made a man pay for it.
Deeanna
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 8:43 a.m.
He's going to get out in a matter on months and continue selling dogs for fighting just as before... this sentence is ridiculous! Deeanna http://www.puppies-seeking-homes.com http://www.puppies-seeking-homes.com/blog
greymom
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 6:48 a.m.
You have got to be kidding me- I don't get how he only got 10 months, how sick our justice system is!!! Don't worry rest assured he will be out in two months due to over crowding doing the same thing again. What a world- sad!!!
Debra
Thu, Nov 11, 2010 : 4:40 a.m.
I have known this boy since he was young stealing, he physically hit neighbors his own mother Debbie. A long line of petty criminals and abusers it was so bad the family was kicked out of the neighborhood.Your lucky BJ remember the other innocent dogs you tied up in your back yard no matter what season feed them when you wanted to????Remember Dallas(Rototiller)/ officer Montgomery rescued when you were 17.I had to rehabilitate him.You beat him harmed him and didn't feed him You are a loser! I wish I had of been in town I would of testified against you.Apparently they did not dig far enough. You are not a good person,you are not right and you should of went to prison.You think your all that and then some you are nothing a 33 year old loser that finally got caught.
robyn
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 8:58 p.m.
The Humane Society of Huron Valley does a terrific job. All funded through private donations. They have been working very hard to investigate and prosecute those who are involved in dog fighting. It's too bad the people are not charged to the full extent of the law. In New York they passed a law for an animal abuse registry, every state should have one. Link: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=17101
Huron74
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 8:03 p.m.
Aw...why not an even year?
michaywe
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 6:22 p.m.
Was there evidence of animal cruelty, dog fights etc...? Something other than telling the investigators what they were anxious to record? Why was it not reported? Is there more to the story or was the plea the best the prosecutor could muster given the lack of evidence and defendants history? If not; Judge Shelton found an appropriate balance and was fair with sentencing.
Indicat
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 5:18 p.m.
Ten months. That's it? Extremely disappointed in Judge Shelton's decision. This guy will be out in less than ten months to do it all over again. A person with 3 felony and 5 misdemeanor convictions seems to be incapable of reform. I didn't read that he cannot own an animal again, but that certainly should be part of the punishment. It's time to make stiffer punishments for animal cruelty.
dan
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 5:08 p.m.
maybe judge Shelton dont get it. maybe the courts should have put him prison,then the courts could have seen other criminals.maybe judge Shelton likes seeing this guy repeatedly in his court. JOB SECURITY
BarbC
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4:55 p.m.
I do not understand why the Judge was lenient with this fellow. I think that he should be given the maximum sentence, since the judge did acknowledge that he had been in trouble several times. Dog fighting is cruel to the dogs and pathological for the observers and owners.
ffej440
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 4:19 p.m.
And don't forget, now he will be on the counties budget (Jail) rather than the state (Prison). Of course the jail will get full and he will proboly do three months. Prehaps the kid glove sentance is why he "don't get it"
jns131
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
If the guy has several felony convictions, what happens to the 3 strikes your out law? Does our laws say nothing? Does our laws mean nothing to a habitual offender? My word folks, we need to get tough with these criminals. We need to revisit these laws and get tougher. Sucks. Just glad he cannot own another dog ever. I hope.
aanative
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:59 p.m.
Sounds like Judge Shelton doesn't 'get it'.
**
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:58 p.m.
Mr. Mackie and Honorable Judge Shelton > Please explain your rationale. We are sick and tired of wrist slaps. And yes, 10 months for this guy is a wrist slap. "Prosecutors agreed to drop one count of animal cruelty and did not pursue habitual-offender charges. Circuit Judge Donald Shelton agreed not to send Jarrell, who has three felony and five misdemeanor convictions, to prison as part of the plea deal. Sentencing guidelines called for up to 17 months incarceration."
cyndiocyndi
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:44 p.m.
It is indeed a shame that this guy spends only 10 months in jail. Studies have shown that animal abusers are also likely to hurt people at some point. Animal abuse should be taken more seriously and the punishment should be WAY more severe.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:35 p.m.
That's IT?! Eleven months?!
Ignatz
Wed, Nov 10, 2010 : 3:10 p.m.
Will hungry, rabid dogs be in his cell with him?