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Buried pit bull was last straw for brother
In two separate cases, three men face dog cruelty charges.
By ABBIE VANSICKLE
Published July 4, 2007
TAMPA - The dead pit bull's head poked up through the dirt in Curtis Lee Gordon's lawn.
He'd had it with his brother. It was time to call the law.
Hillsborough sheriff's deputies arrested James E. Gordon, 53, Monday on one count of cruelty to animals and one count of fighting animals.
James Gordon was one of three people arrested that day on animal cruelty charges, all stemming from dogfighting allegations.
Curtis Gordon, 51, who lives on the same Plant City property as his brother, estimated the dog had been there three days.
Investigators found three other dogs there with lacerations, said sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter.
"He's a angel of confusion. Like, you can be an angel for the Lord. He's an angel of the devil. He's been like that all his life, " Curtis Gordon said.
James Gordon has been arrested 37 times in Florida, beginning with a 1970 arrest on shoplifting charges.
He was taken to the Hillsborough County jail, where he posted $4, 000 bail.
Meanwhile, Eric and Chris Crist, 19 and 18, of Thonotosassa were arrested Monday, accused of fighting four pit bulls, jail records show.
Both face one count of confining animals without food or water. Chris Crist also was charged with four counts of fighting animals and three of animal cruelty. His brother was charged with two counts of attending an animal fight and two of animal cruelty involving torture or torment.
Circuit Judge Gregory Holder increased Chris Crist's bail to $1.6-million and Eric Crist's bail to just over $1.2-million.
Staff writer Sarah Mishkin and news researcher Angie Drobnic Holan contributed to this report. Abbie VanSickle can be reached at 226-3373 or vansickle@sptimes.com.
[Last modified July 4, 2007, 07:10:04]
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by cathy
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07/06/07 11:19 PM
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It is very funny that the people who whine about PETA are usually the ANIMAL ABUSERS who want to go on doing what they do
Spread some garbage about PETA, and keep torturing animals.
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by Betty
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07/05/07 02:30 PM
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These men should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! These laws need to be enforced!
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by Sara
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07/05/07 07:36 AM
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I applaud Curtis Lee Gordon's courage in reporting his brother, and Judge Holder's bail decision. Animal cruelty has been proven to escalate to violence against humans, and dog fighting is a shadow world of illegal drugs, guns & other crimes.
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by RS
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07/04/07 08:47 PM
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Many serial killers start as animal abusers. I've worked with Judge Holder (before he became a judge). I'm sure the bail he has set is a reflection of that fact and has nothing to do with PETA.
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by LAS
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07/04/07 07:47 PM
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And people wonder why pit bulls attack people. It's not the dogs- it's how they're raised.
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by Brandi
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07/04/07 03:45 PM
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Keep them in jail, or better yet, let's starve them and deprive them of water, and then let them fight with each other over some food, and then, let's bury them in the ground with only their heads sticking out. Who needs people like this?
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by DJ
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07/04/07 02:32 PM
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Jim, I sure do!
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by HL
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07/04/07 01:08 PM
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One could commit armed robbery and receive lower bail. People were not injured; it was dogs. The court must be run by the insane people from PETA. PETA is the best at causing people to hate animals. They are ridiculous.
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by Jim
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07/04/07 12:41 PM
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DJ, why don't you just say it like it is, and say you want to KILL these people.
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by Kasey
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07/04/07 11:22 AM
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Curtis, good for you for showing "tough love." It takes a strong man to make the right decisions like you did.
As for those who abused the dogs, may justice be served.
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by susan
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07/04/07 10:51 AM
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thank you judge holder. too many of these cretins are allowed to torture animals or even set kittens on fire, then be released after posting $1,000 bail. let them sit and rot.
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by Ursula
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07/04/07 10:34 AM
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Gordon's bail was set too low!!!
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by Lew
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07/04/07 10:13 AM
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Am I the only one to think that 1.6 & 1.2 million bail is a bit over the top?
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by Vickie
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07/04/07 10:03 AM
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ONCE AGAIN...what is a career criminal ...JAMES GORDON ARRESTED 37 TIMES...doing allowed to breathe the SAME AIR as the rest of us who live by abiding laws??
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by Linda
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07/04/07 09:19 AM
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Please make sure that these scuzz-balls DO THEIR TIME IN JAIL! And we had better make sure that the "big" guys in jail know that they have tortured animals, too! :o)
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by barbara
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07/04/07 09:08 AM
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just once they should do the same thing to someone like james gordon that he did to the dogs....i bet they would think twice before they abuse an animal....i will pray for his rotten lost soul.
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by DJ
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07/04/07 08:56 AM
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Can't we just start putting these people down? It seems like its always the same few people messing our society up for everyone else; arrested 37 times? Get rid of him-
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by JA
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07/04/07 08:52 AM
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I hope these cruel individuals will go to prison for a long time
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by Dave
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07/04/07 08:42 AM
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Good job Judge Holder!
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