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Ten offenders have pled guilty to participation in a Grays Ferry dogfight.
Henry “Puerto Rican Junior” Beard is believed to have been the ringleader of the fight that occurred April 10, 2011 on the 2600 block of Gerritt Street. He and 13 others were arrested that night.
Beard pled guilty to encouraging, aiding or assisting in animal fighting, animal fighting for amusement or gain and criminal conspiracy Aug. 1, according to court records. He will serve three concurrent 11-and-a-half- to 23-month jail sentences, which started Aug. 8, plus five subsequent years on probation.
Beard posted his $5,000 bail April 10, but was rearrested twice since then for drugs to which he also pled guilty, according to court records. Both sentences will run simultaneously.
The Pennsylvania Society of Prevention and Cruelty to Animals had been investigating the dogfighting ring for months, according to police. Officers camped outside of Beard’s home for two nights before following him to the Grays Ferry bout where officers discovered a battle in progress in a second-floor bedroom. Fighting paraphernalia was located in the room, two fighting dogs were bleeding and there was blood on the floor and walls.
The eight canines recovered from the scene plus an additional 32 found at various locations have been rehabilitated and adopted, according to the society.
The charges against four of the offenders were quashed or dismissed. The remaining nine pled guilty between Jan. 3 and Aug. 16. Edward Gonzales, 30, of North Philly, and Paul Greenidge, 39, of Northeast Philly, are awaiting sentencing while Theodore Gaines, 25, of West Philly, and Paul Escobosa, 21, and Jeffrey Harris, 33, both of North Philly, received four to five years on probation. The remainder received concurrent 11-and-a-half to 23-month sentences plus three to five years on probation, with Jerome Davis, 43, and Jonathon Galarza, 28, both of North Philly, receiving credit for time served and immediate parole. Rashawn Coleman, 31, of North Philly, and Vincent Floyd, 24, of the 3000 block of Mifflin Street, began house arrest with electronic monitoring Aug. 16.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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