By James B. Bartle
Two men, both from the local area, are expected to plead guilty to federal dogfighting charges as early as this week.
Teddy Kiriakidis, 50, Leasburg, and Ronald Creach, 34, Leslie, along with Robert Hackman, 55, Foley, are expected to plead guilty, possibly on Mon., Sept. 14, in federal court to illegal dog fighting charges following a major dog fighting ring crackdown by federal authorities in July.
Jack Ruppel, 35, Eldon, pled guilty on Sept. 4 in federal court in Jefferson City to a conspiracy charge and to selling an animal for a fighting venture.
Twenty-six people were charged and more than 500 dogs seized in a multi-state bust of an illegal dog fighting ring. The states included: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
A fifth co-defendant in the Missouri case, Michael Morgan, 38, Hannibal, was set to go to trial on Mon., Sept. 14.
The ring was mostly comprised of “pit bull” dogs, some of which are being cared for by the Missouri Humane Society, St. Louis.