John W. Reynolds, 34, of Warren Co. has pleaded guilty to four counts of Missouri State charges of dog fighting, stemming from the largest dogfighting cases in U.S. history.  Reynolds is in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections on unrelated convictions.  He pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 7 in the Warren County Circuit Court, in Warrenton.

Reynolds received five years on the first charge and another five years on the second charge to run consecutively with the first.  He also received five years on the third and five years on the fourth charge — both to run concurrently with the first and second charges.  

In Missouri, dogfighting and possession of dogs for fighting is a Class D Felony in Missouri and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. No fine is specified. Being a spectator is a Class A misdemeanor with minimum of 6 months.

The ASPCA tells the Missourinet it has recently established a blood sport unit to tackle animal fighting in the U.S. to aid in combatting dogfighting in the country.