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]