KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM)– An Oshtemo Township man who was charged with six separate counts after ten animals were removed from his property last February, won’t serve any more time in jail unless he violates probation sometime over the next five years.
He was also ordered to pay over $8800 in fines and restitution and complete a rehabilitation program.
Kelvin Thomas had been convicted in 2012 of harboring and training animals for dogfighting.
Prosecutors say he was caught again last February. Seven pit bulls and three Dobermans were seized from his property this time and he was charged with six counts that could have gotten him up to 8 years in prison.
But he cut a plea deal with Calhoun County Prosecutors to that will keep him out of jail, as long as he doesn’t violate the conditions of his probation. If he does, he could get up to 5 months in jail.
The Kalamazoo Prosecutor’s office bowed out of the case because prior to becoming the Prosecutor, Jeff Getting had been Thomas’s lawyer during that 2012 prosecution.
