Harrison County man charged with federal violations

WASKOM — A Waskom man has been charged with federal dogfighting violations. According to our news partner KETK and a release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Jesus Allen Stephens, 34, made his initial appearance in court on Wednesday after being indicted. According to the DOJ release, Stephens allegedly hosted and organized a “large-scale dogfighting event on family owned property in Harrison County on Nov. 13, 2021.”

Court documents allege that Stephens and others arranged to fight dogs at the event for the purposes of gambling and entertainment, and that Stephens had announced a series of up to 14 matches and sent GPS coordinates of the property to multiple individuals.

The documents said that law enforcement officers that disrupted the event found a “dogfighting pit structure in addition to other dogfighting evidence.” The indictment charged Stephens with possessing seven dogs for the purpose of dogfighting, and that he is also charged for his participation in another dogfight on April 10, 2021.

The release said that if Stephens is convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count charged.