State Attorney General Henry McMaster calls it “outrageous” that convicted pit bull breeder David Ray Tant has been paroled after serving almost six years of a 30-year sentence. Tant pleaded guilty to 40 counts connected with breeding dogs for fighting. McMaster says that he decided on that plea after the jury was shown videotape of a violent pit bull fight.
McMaster says the today’s parole board decision undermines South Carolina law enforcement’s prosecution of dog fighting rings.
Tant’s attorney, Bennettsville legislator Doug Jennings, says his client is a different man now. The parole board OK’d Tant’s release without debate.
At the time of his arrest, Tant was the head of a national network trafficking in fighting dogs. Tant told the parole board that he would not even own a pet from here on.
McMaster talks about the prosecution of the case and dog-fighting in South Carolina:
AUDIO: McMaster on Tant parole and dog-fighting culture (3:29)
