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BY ELLEN BILTZ
The underground world of dog fighting was brought to the nation's attention this week with the indictment of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, but the problem hits closer to home than some might imagine.
"This is actually a big issue in Virginia," Spotsylvania County Animal Control Director William Tydings said. "We've had several cases in the past."
In fact, a Spotsylvania man was indicted Monday in a dog-fighting case. Charles Timothy Lomax is a suspect in a pit-bull fighting ring, officials said.
Tydings said Lomax isn't the first case in the county.
Spotsylvania court records reveal at least two other incidents: Danny Fisher, who was convicted of dog fighting in April 2003, and Jackie Ellis, was convicted of animal abuse in a dog-fighting case in December 2002.
Stafford's Chief Animal Control Officer Michael Null said his county had only one case of organized dog fighting, but said he did not consider it to be on the professional level.
Victor Hamilton was convicted in January 2002 of promoting dog fighting in Stafford, according to court records.
"I'm sure it's everywhere," Null said. "But around here, you see more of the amateur fighting, not like on the professional level that you find in more urban areas."
Null said most cases in Stafford involve people who breed their dogs to be aggressive toward animals and humans. They did not involve professional training and wagering.
Animal-control officers in Fredericksburg and King George, Culpeper and Westmoreland counties said they've never had any dog-fighting cases.
Tydings said scars are one sign of abuse in dog-fighting cases he's investigated.
"Sometimes they need medical treatment if the wounds are still fresh," he said.
Spotsylvania Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tom Shaia said Monday's indictments were the second round of charges against Lomax.
He now faces four misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and two felony charges of promoting or engaging in dog fighting. If convicted, Lomax could face up to 14 years in prison.
"He had a lot of dogs there," Shaia said about Lomax's house on Grand Brooks Road near Lake Anna State Park.
While Shaia said he could not release specifics about the case, he did say there was evidence that Lomax could be involved in the breeding and distribution of pit bulls or pit bull mixes over the past two years. Lomax is scheduled for an Aug. 28 hearing.
The most recent pit bull death was in October 2005, when two pit bulls got loose and fought and one ended up dying. Lomax was charged with animal cruelty in the dog's death and the injuries the other dog sustained, Shaia said.
Animal-control officers around the state have begun working together to combat the problem.
Tydings and another animal control officer in Spotsylvania are part of an organization called the Virginia Animal Fighting Task Force.
The group provides assistance to animal-control agencies investigating fights.
"We even had an officer go down and help with the search in the Vick case [in Surry County]," he said. "We're there to assist with any jurisdiction having trouble."
Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424