MICHIGAN -- Police say a man who pleaded guilty to dog fighting charges less than four years ago is back at it again.
Now, we're learning that the man in question is a local church elder as well.
Newschannel 3 was there when Kelvin Thomas was arrested in 2012, and we broke the news of the raid on his property again Wednesday afternoon.
But this time, the bishop of his church says he's innocent.
The bishop and church community admit Thomas was convicted of dog fighting before, but they say he's a changed man, and they don't believe these new charges.
Bishop T.D. Lockett is standing behind his church elder Kelvin Thomas, despite new allegations of dog fighting.
"I think he's being framed, because I know beyond a shadow of doubt that he's not dog fighting," Lockett said.
But Kalamazoo County's Animal Control chief Steve Lawrence begs to differ.
"He had been advertising the dogs or the puppies, which they do for fighting dogs, as the son of a three time champion so they're being sold as potential fighting dogs," Lawrence said.
Animal control seized ten dogs from Thomas' Oshtemo Township home Wednesday.
"None of them had water, several were quite thin. All of them were anxious to get into a warm place," Lawrence said.
This is the second time Thomas has been accused of dog fighting.
Back in 2012, 36 dogs were seized from Thomas, who pled guilty and served probation.
Bishop Lockett says Thomas learned his lesson.
"The way he was talking to me today, he was very sorry and he came and repented by the allegations. He said 'Bishop, I'm not doing what they say I'm doing,'" Lockett said.
Meanwhile, Animal Control says the evidence is mounting.
"Most of them are young, he is just starting to build his colony of dogs," Lawrence said.
Lockett says Thomas is innocent until proven guilty.
"It's just like the good Lord, when he forgives you, he casts it into the sea of forgiveness and I think our media should do the same thing," Bishop Lockett said.
All Thomas learned the first time around was to be sneakier about it. Go to church, fool these church members into believing you've found Jesus and then when you get busted again, they'll rally around you and declare you've been "framed". I don't want to place too much blame on the bishop. He wants to believe that Thomas is innocent. However, he should really keep his mouth shut and not publicly defend him until he finds out the truth. Thomas is a convicted animal abuser who has continued his vile deeds.
As part of Thomas' probation for his last conviction, he was not supposed to have animals for two years. However, more than four years have passed since that time.
(WWMT - Feb 17, 2016)
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