Buried dogs found in fighting investigation

By ANDRIA SIMMONS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/11/07

Investigators have unearthed the bodies of three dogs from the yard of a home near Snellville where they suspect dogfighting took place, they said Monday.

A forensic veterinarian is working to determine if the dogs died from injuries related to dogfighting, which could prompt authorities to file additional charges against four men arrested last week.

The men facing charges are Luis Reyes Esquival, 30; Jose Natividad Hernandez-Chable, 37; Efren Reyes, 33; and Mauricio Montoya, 27. Investigators charged them with criminal attempt to commit dogfighting following a raid at their home on Thursday.

Efren and Luis Reyes also are charged with possession of dangerous drugs after authorities found the prescription painkiller hydrocodone in the house, said Stacey Bourbonnais, spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department.

Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement suspect the four are in the country illegally and have placed a hold on the men that could eventually trigger their deportation, Bourbonnais said. The four are scheduled to appear before a magistrate judge Friday for a probable cause hearing.

During the raid, deputies and animal-control officers seized 10 pit bulls, some with scars and recent wounds from suspected dogfighting, and 14 chickens, including a few roosters. The roosters did not appear to have been used for cockfighting, Bourbonnais said

The pit bulls are at the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter in Lawrenceville while their owners await a disposition of the criminal charges against them. They will not be available for adoption unless the owners surrender them voluntarily, according to Gwinnett County Animal Control Officer Joey Brooks.

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