RICHMOND -
A former Richmond sheriff's deputy will serve jail time for animal cruelty.
David Robinson was sentenced to 14 months in jail today for keeping more than 20 pit bulls inside his Henrico home. Police believe he planned to use the animals for dog fighting.
But he could've gotten up to 28 years for the crimes.
A judge suspended 18 years and 10 months.
Back in February, David Robinson, pleaded guilty to 4 counts of dogfighting and 8 counts of Animal Cruelty.
After the charges were filed in April of 2009, Robinson was fired from his job.
"You swear to an oath. So, you have to do what is right and not being involved in any criminal activity," said Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody.
Sheriff Woody says they conducted an internal investigation into Robinson's background that turned up wrongdoing.
That's when Robinson was let go from his job, ending a five-year career with the Richmond Sheriff's office.
"It's always good to pluck out the bad from the good ones that are actually upholding the law," said Woody.
Robinson is now behind bars convicted of dog fighting, the animals were found on his property.
"You could hear dogs just hollering and howling," said Edward Johnson.
Edward Johnson remembers patrolling the neighborhood when he heard and saw something suspicious.
"I've seen stuff going in and out of that place to let me know that they were fighting dogs there. Stuff to exercise the dogs, treadmills."
Police seized dogfighting paraphernalia like dog rings, pulling sleds and harnesses for training. They also found medical equipment and drugs.
A neighbor tipped them off after discovering nearly two dozen dogs in April of 2009. She says she saw the dogs chained up and fighting.
Prosecutors say two pitbulls died from their injuries, 12 had to be euthanized because of their aggressive behavior. However, 6 were adopted out to a pitbull rescue group in Richmond.
Still, one neighbor says this crime never should've happened.
"I think anybody. I don't care who they are, if they treat animals mean, they ought to be punished," said Betty Nuttall.
In addition to the time Robinson serves, prosecutors also say he'll have to pay 7-thousand dollars in restitution to cover veterinary bills and impound expenses.
Prosecutors say they never caught him in any dogfighting. But state law says if you possess, own, or sell with intent that the animal engage in fighting it's enough evidence to convict of dogfighting.
Robinson could ask the judge to serve his sentence through home incarceration after 4 months in jail.
David Robinson was sentenced to 14 months in jail today for keeping more than 20 pit bulls inside his Henrico home. Police believe he planned to use the animals for dog fighting.
But he could've gotten up to 28 years for the crimes.
A judge suspended 18 years and 10 months.
Back in February, David Robinson, pleaded guilty to 4 counts of dogfighting and 8 counts of Animal Cruelty.
After the charges were filed in April of 2009, Robinson was fired from his job.
"You swear to an oath. So, you have to do what is right and not being involved in any criminal activity," said Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody.
Sheriff Woody says they conducted an internal investigation into Robinson's background that turned up wrongdoing.
That's when Robinson was let go from his job, ending a five-year career with the Richmond Sheriff's office.
"It's always good to pluck out the bad from the good ones that are actually upholding the law," said Woody.
Robinson is now behind bars convicted of dog fighting, the animals were found on his property.
"You could hear dogs just hollering and howling," said Edward Johnson.
Edward Johnson remembers patrolling the neighborhood when he heard and saw something suspicious.
"I've seen stuff going in and out of that place to let me know that they were fighting dogs there. Stuff to exercise the dogs, treadmills."
Police seized dogfighting paraphernalia like dog rings, pulling sleds and harnesses for training. They also found medical equipment and drugs.
A neighbor tipped them off after discovering nearly two dozen dogs in April of 2009. She says she saw the dogs chained up and fighting.
Prosecutors say two pitbulls died from their injuries, 12 had to be euthanized because of their aggressive behavior. However, 6 were adopted out to a pitbull rescue group in Richmond.
Still, one neighbor says this crime never should've happened.
"I think anybody. I don't care who they are, if they treat animals mean, they ought to be punished," said Betty Nuttall.
In addition to the time Robinson serves, prosecutors also say he'll have to pay 7-thousand dollars in restitution to cover veterinary bills and impound expenses.
Prosecutors say they never caught him in any dogfighting. But state law says if you possess, own, or sell with intent that the animal engage in fighting it's enough evidence to convict of dogfighting.
Robinson could ask the judge to serve his sentence through home incarceration after 4 months in jail.
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