Man accused of operating dogfighting ring found guilty on all charges

WILKINSBURG, Pa. — A Wilkinsburg man accused of operating a dogfighting ring at his mother’s home last year was found guilty Friday afternoon on all of the animal cruelty-related charges he was facing.

More than a dozen pit bulls were seized from Darryl Bryant’s mother’s property in February 2012.

Police said the officers also found exercise equipment that they believe was used to condition the dogs.

At the time of his arrest, animal welfare officials said Bryant was a renowned breeder with a national reputation.

Channel 11’s Jodine Costanzo reported that an investigator from the Humane Society testified Thursday in court, and that a state police dog fighting investigator testified on Friday.

The state police officer testified that everything he saw from more than 200 evidence photos and a cellphone video of what he called a “training session” to teach younger dogs to fight was used to condition dogs to battle one another.

Costanzo reported that Bryant refused to testify on Friday and that the defense rested without calling any witnesses.

As for the closing arguments, Costanzo said Bryant’s attorney said there’s no proof he ever made the dogs fight.

According to Costanzo, the prosecution wrapped up arguments by asking the jury, “At what point does everything in that basement stop being a coincidence?”

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