By John Dobberstein, Editor
MUSKOGEE — LeShon Johnson, the former NFL player from Broken Arrow accused of breeding, selling and transporting dogs across state lines for animal fighting, will be allowed to see the dozens of animals seized that are being cared for, a federal judge decided Monday.
U.S. Magistrate Edward Snow gave Johnson’s legal team and prosecutors 10 days to arrange a meeting for Johnson to visit the dogs in person.
Federal prosecutors filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Muskogee to protect the identity of the out-of-state government contractor hired by U.S. Marshals Service to care for the 190 dogs seized in raids last fall in Broken Arrow and Haskell.
The government sought to not only to redact the firm’s name in court proceedings but also not disclose the firm’s identity to Johnson or his attorneys.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Howanitz and Sarah Brown cited concerns about past incidents where shelters were broken into by defendants or associates to reclaim seized dogs, or shelter staff were threatened or their facilities vandalized.
They also argued an in-person visit by Johnson and attorneys would be “moot” as the condition of the dogs — who were extensively photographed and inventoried with condition reports — would not be the same now as when they were seized.
Johnson’s attorneys argued that could potentially compromise their ability to question or cross-examine operators of the contractor or view potentially key evidence in the case.
Snow ruled the name and location of the contractor would be disclosed to Johnson and his attorneys, Courtney Jordan of Claremore and Tom Wright of Muskogee, but it would be excluded in court proceedings open to the public. Snow also ordered Johnson must not disclose the contractor’s information to anyone.
Johnson, a Haskell native and former All-America running back and NFL draft pick, was indicted earlier this month in federal court with violations of the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.
In the 21-count indictment, Johnson, 54, is charged with possessing 190 pit bull-type dogs for use in an animal fighting venture, and for selling, transporting and delivering a dog for use in an animal fighting venture.
According to court documents, Johnson ran a dog fighting operation known as “Mal Kant Kennels” in both Broken Arrow and Haskell.
He previously ran “Krazyside Kennels,” also out of Oklahoma, prosecutors said, which led to his guilty plea on state animal fighting charges in 2004. Johnson served no jail time and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $8,000.
In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi’s office said last year’s seizure of dogs from Johson was believed to be the largest number of dogs ever seized from a single person in a federal dogfighting case.
Johnson has entered a plea of not guilty and was released on his own recognizance pending court proceedings. Johnson’s attorneys have argued through legal motions that prosecutors will have to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that he knowingly possessed, sold, transported or delivered dogs for animal fighting.
Kelly Hill says
You’re treating this guy like he’s a star already just like Michael Vick
What about the man at the Pentagon in a very high-ranking position that was arrested in a huge dogfighting ring Never hear anything about that, He probably still has his job.
If the FBI was really doing their job, they would find the places where Mr. Johnson would hold his dogfighting events because everybody knows about it and believing it it goes beyond dogfighting.
Shame on you Kash Pattel
Shame on you attorney general