A Buffalo man has been sentenced for using his home as a facility for training pitbulls for dog fighting.
According to the Erie County District Attorney, 49-year-old Shondel Stephens will spend six months in jail and five years probation for dog fighting.
A judge has also prohibited Stephens from owning any animals while on probation.
Prosecutors say in August 2016, SPCA agents entered Stephens' home on a search warrant and found two severely injured pit bull dogs and animal fighting paraphernalia.
“We have zero tolerance for these cases,” says DA John Flynn. “Our office is aggressively prosecuting animal abusers and will fight to put them in jail.”