Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe announced Wednesday that Ralph Cadet, 42, and Tyrell Francis, 26, both of 39 Greenridge Way, New Hempstead, New York pled guilty to one count of Prohibited Animal Fighting, a class "E" Felony. They face a maximum sentence of one year in the Rockland County jail when sentenced on September 17. Both Cadet and Francis had been previously indicted in a narcotics investigation, which led to the discovery of the abuse of nine Pit Bull terriers.



Using search warrants detectives found the dogs and evidence of dogfighting, including a length of rope used to strengthen a dog's jaw muscles. At least one dogfight was captured on cell phone video. Zugibe said Cadet and Francis staged a dogfight for the purpose of entertainment inside their home and that the animal abuse occurred between January 2012 and April 2012.



As part of the plea agreement, Cadet and Francis agreed to give up ownership of the rescued dogs and register as animal abusers under Rockland County law, which prevents the purchase of animals for up to four years. The indictments were announced in October by Zugibe.



At least one of the dogs had scars on her front leg and face and the others were in a variety of different health conditions. They included seven-month-old puppies and dogs up to three years old. The dogs were put up for adoption.



The Rockland County Drug Task Force, the Hudson Valley Humane Society and the Special Investigations Unit of the Rockland County District Attorney's Office conducted the investigation.