Over 50 canines found in Ohio home lead to man’s conviction on dogfighting charges

GALLIPOLIS, Ohio (WCMH) – An animal attacking a child led investigators to find over 40 dogs in a Gallia County man’s home. When they came back years later, they found even more dogs.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Ohio, 40-year-old Michael Valentine, of Bidwell, Ohio, will serve 11 years in prison after previously pleading guilty to dogfighting and drug charges in May 2023.

Valentine, who faced up to life in prison, was initially investigated for dogfighting in 2019 after a dog attacked a small child who was living with him. That investigation led to a search warrant of Valentine’s Mount Olive Road home, which contained over 40 dogs.

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Authorities seized the animals, along with several items of dogfighting paraphernalia, such as treadmills, veterinary supplies, and dogfighting videos.

A second search warrant was issued on March 8, 2022, as part of a fentanyl distribution investigation after Valentine and an informant participated in a controlled substance purchase. That search resulted in the seizure of more dogfighting paraphernalia, two assault rifles, 677 grams of fentanyl and 69 grams of packaged cocaine.

Investigators also found 11 more dogs at the home. They determined that Valentine had sold approximately 141 grams of fentanyl from the property.

Valentine received 10 years in prison for the 2022 arrest, plus one year for the dogfighting charge, which is to run consecutively. He will also serve five years of supervised release after prison.

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