Host of dog fights receives 7-year term

? A Hughes County woman convicted of hosting dog fights at her rural residence was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Camille Gann, who also received eight years’ probation on Tuesday, was the last of about 20 suspects prosecuted in connection with the dog-fighting ring that also included a former professional football player.

The trial drew animal rights activists from across the state who picketed outside the Hughes County Courthouse complaining that District Judge George Butner had not sentenced previous dog-fighting defendants to prison time.

“Dog fighters are members of a lawless subculture,” said Cynthia McKinney, state coordinator for the Humane Society.

“They deserve no sympathy in our court system.”

Last week, some animal-rights supporters also protested loudly when former National Football League player LeShon Johnson was given a deferred sentence for his part in the dog-fighting ring.

Johnson, who had trouble with the law five years ago for alleged dog-fighting in Osage County, got five years of probation after pleading guilty.

Johnson was accused this time of raising fighting dogs and bringing them to Gann’s ring near Wetumka for pit bull bouts.

He was never charged by Osage County prosecutors, but agreed to stay away from dog fights, according to reports.

Animal-rights activists also are upset that 50 of Johnson’s alleged fighting dogs – which he denied owning – are still being kept in small pens at the Tulsa Animal Shelter.

Eighty-three of the canines originally were taken in a raid at a McIntosh County property, and the surviving dogs have been held as evidence since.