Two men remain behind bars, while a woman has been released on bail, as a dog fighting case in Chatham-Kent is now before the courts.
Published reports say that Kim Robert was released in $10,000 bail on Thursday in a Chatham courtroom. Reports say there is a long list of conditions to her release, which include travel restrictions and where she must reside.
The other two accused in the case, John Robert (Kim Roberts husband) and Michel Gagnon also appeared in court on Thursday. They remain in custody, and are due for a potential bail hearing on Monday.
After holding a joint press conference with the OSPCA on Wednesday, the Chatham-Kent Police Service released more information on Thursday about the trios charges.
Police say on October 9, 2015, as part of a joint-forces operation, members of the Chatham-Kent Police Service and Ontario SPCA executed three warrants at a residence on Morris Line in Tilbury East Township.
31 ‘pit bull type’ dogs and a large quantity of evidence consistent with the training of dogs to fight was seized. Fifteen shotguns and rifles along with a significant amount of marijuana was also found and seized.
Initially, John Robert, 43 years, Kim Robert, 39 years, and Michel Gagnon, 41 years, all of Morris Line were each charged with two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of careless storage of a firearm.
The dogs have been placed in the care of the Ontario SPCA where they are continuing to be individually assessed and treated.
As a result of the fluid investigation, and tremendous amount of evidence located and seized from the scene, investigators have now laid additional charges.
On Thursday morning, the Chatham-Kent Police Service charged each of the accused with the following 92 additional charges:
– 31 counts of Unlawfully Owning a Pit Bull Type Dog contrary to the Dog Owner’s Liability Act
– 30 counts of Cruelty to Animals – causing unnecessary pain, suffering, injury to an animal contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– 15 counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– 11 counts of Careless Storage of a Firearm contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– 4 counts of Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
– 1 count of Possession for the Purposes of Trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act
Here is more information from Wednesday’s press conference with Const. Renee Cowell and Inspector Brad Dewar from the OSPCA:
Dewar said dog fighting investigations are rare.
“The last investigation was in 2006 for the Ontario SPCA,” he said. “It is very underground and is usually tied with other aspects of crime and it isn’t commonly spoke about within communities. It’s happening. This is one example of it but in the Province of Ontario there is likely other locations like this and this is why we need the community to come forward if they see any area of concern within their area. As is stands right now we are still at the infancy of this investigation and we will continue to proceed wherever the evidence leads us.”
Dewar said he can’t say for certain if fights were taking place directly on the Tilbury property.
“I wouldn’t be able to speak on the details of the investigation but what I can say is that the animals on the property were used in fights and had injuries consistent to that,” he said. “I can’t comment on whether it was occurring there or not.”
Cowell said the investigation has been on-going for a couple of months, and all three of the accused are known to police.
Cowell said she couldn’t say whether charges could be laid on any other people.
“At this time, this investigation is still fluid, still ongoing and we still have a lot of work to do so it would be too early for us to say,” she said.
Dewar said laws in Ontario are top-notch when it comes to animal cruelty.
“The Province of Ontario is very advanced in its legislation towards animal welfare,” he said. “It in fact has one of the best pieces of animal welfare across Canada and even in North America. Certainly we are very progressive in Ontario in addressing the welfare of animals and of course changes will always occur as history continues.”
Cowell added: “I believe if the courts were to proceed by way of summary conviction they could face up to 18 months with a $10,000 monetary fine. If they were to proceed with an indictment, which is the maximum and receive the maximum upon conviction, they could face up to five years.”
Watch for more on this story.
