Paulding County Man Sentenced to 475 Years in Prison for Dog Fighting and Animal Cruelty

District Attorney Robert S. Lane announced that on January 30, 2025, Superior Court Judge Dean C. Bucci sentenced 57-year-old Vincent Lemark Burrell to serve 475 years in prison, the maximum sentence possible, following his conviction on 103 counts related to dog fighting and animal cruelty.
Burrell was found guilty of 93 counts of Dog Fighting and 10 counts of Cruelty to Animals after a four-day jury trial that concluded earlier that day. The charges stemmed from an extensive investigation involving the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, the Paulding County Marshal’s Office, Paulding County Animal Control, and the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General.
The investigation began after an Amazon delivery driver reported concerns about the welfare of dogs on Burrell’s property. Upon arrival, authorities found numerous dogs chained to fence posts with heavy logging chains, positioned just out of reach of one another—a known technique to increase aggression in fighting dogs.
On November 8, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Burrell’s property, discovering 107 dogs, most of which were malnourished and lacked access to food or water. Authorities also recovered numerous items associated with dog fighting, including a treadmill for training dogs, a breeding stand, a break stick used to separate dogs during fights, documents linking Burrell’s dogs to other known dog fighters, a crash kit used to treat injured dogs, and contracts for the sale of specific dogs. Additionally, a chicken was found being used to bait the dogs into aggression.
Veterinarians examined the dogs the same day, documenting various injuries, including scars consistent with dog fighting and rashes caused by their collars. Some dogs had their teeth forcibly removed. The Paulding County Animal Shelter took custody of the animals before they were seized under a federal warrant by Special Agent Douglas Bridges with the USDA Office of the Inspector General. The dogs were later placed with a rescue organization.
Burrell was arrested on November 8, 2022, and charged with multiple counts of dog fighting and animal cruelty.
“The average person doesn’t realize how prevalent dog fighting still is,” said Chief Marshal Trevor Hess. “We appreciate the District Attorney’s Office for taking this case seriously and ensuring the defendant was held accountable. Dog fighting is a felony crime and must be prosecuted as such.”
“Dog fighters operate in an underground world of breeding, selling, training, and fighting dogs in brutal conditions,” said Jessica K. Rock, Animal Crimes Resource Prosecutor with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia. “By prosecuting dog fighters, we expose this criminal enterprise, ensure justice for the animals, and take steps toward eradicating this crime.”
“Paulding County will not tolerate the inhumane treatment of animals,” said lead prosecutor K.C. Pagnotta. “Citizens can play a role in stopping animal abuse by recognizing signs of dog fighting and reporting concerns to law enforcement.”
Sheriff Ashley Henson echoed that sentiment, encouraging anyone with information about similar activities to call 911 or submit an anonymous tip at 770-443-3047 or via the Paulding Sheriff’s Office app.
District Attorney Lane commended the efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors. “Our citizens are protected by some of the finest men and women who work tirelessly to keep Paulding County safe.”
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney K.C. Pagnotta and Animal Crimes Resource Prosecutor Jessica K. Rock, in coordination with the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and the Paulding County Marshal’s Office.