Testimony began today in the trial of a 35-year-old Tampa woman who, along with her boyfriend, face dog-fighting charges.
Celena Brantley and Maurice Bayless, 47, were arrested in April 2008 after inspectors with Hillsborough County Animal services and Tampa Police detectives discovered 18 dogs and what they said was dog-fighting paraphernalia.
Brantley is being tried separately. Bayless' attorney requested more time to prepare.
Assistant State Attorney Natalia Silver told jurors three of the adult dogs found at the couple's Selbourne Avenue home had wounds consistent with being fought. She said one, named Roger Ramjet, was found wearing a weighted collar she said was used to strengthen a dog's neck muscles.
"He had bite marks on his face, ears and front forearms consistent with animal fighting," she said.
Silver said officers seized "voluminous amounts" of medications used to treat fighting wounds and books and magazines about dog fighting.
Assistant Public Defender Jennifer Welker told jurors the medications were used to "make the dogs feel better" and the weighted collar was used because Roger Ramjet was weak and sickly.
"Sometimes things are just what they are," she said. "It doesn't have to have a sinister reason behind it."
Welker said authorities jumped to conclusions and her client had no participation in dog fighting.
When he was arrested, Bayless had a tattoo on his right arm that said ""GOING HARD' DOGS FIGHTING''
Testimony will continue Tuesday.
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