Neighbors upset about lack of dogfight charges

Monday, April 17th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SPERRY, Okla. (AP) -- Two months after Osage County authorities raided the property of pro football player LeShon Johnson for alleged dogfights, there still have been no charges filed against him.

And his neighbors are upset.

"If they caught them red-handed, and if it's illegal to fight dogs, someone ought to be prosecuted," said neighbor Larry Ready.

Osage County sheriff's deputies reported seeing bloody, wounded pit bull terriers and people fleeing into the woods near Johnson's home during a Feb. 13 raid. They wrote 14 citations to people for being spectators at a dog fight, but not one for Johnson or his wife, Michelle. Johnson plays for the NFL's New York Giants.

Osage County District Attorney Larry Stuart said his assistant, Rene Henry, will decide whether to file charges.

Those ticketed were ordered to appear in court on March 3, but so far Osage County Court Clerk Sharon Casebolt said no fines have been paid and she has not received the tickets from the district attorney's office.

Johnson's neighbors had complained several times to the sheriff's department about suspected dogfights on Johnson's property.

"We (the neighbors) don't like the extra traffic, but the bottom line is that dog fighting is illegal, and if it is being done out here we'd like to see something done about it," said Ready.

According to sheriff's reports, deputies reported seeing trucks with dog boxes and other vehicles in a caravan to the Johnson property.

LeShon Johnson told authorities that he was asleep during the raid and could not explain the blood in the barn or the wounded dogs.

Bloody coveralls were found with Michelle Johnson's driver's license in the pocket. Mrs. Johnson denied any knowledge of dog fighting, telling deputies someone had handed her a dog through the door.