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Animal Law Keyed to Wagman
United States v. Stevens
Citation:
559 U.S. 460 (2010)Facts
Robert J. Stevens ran a business called “Dogs of Velvet and Steel” and published a website through which he sold videos of pit bulls engaging in dogfights and attacking other animals. Stevens was not involved in the actual dogfighting but compiled and sold these videos, including “Japan Pit Fights” and “Pick-A-Winna,” which showed pit bulls in organized fights, and “Catch Dogs,” which showed pit bulls being used to hunt wild boar. In 2004, he was indicted under 18 U.S.C. § 48, which criminalized the commercial creation, sale, or possession of certain depictions of animal cruelty. The statute included an exception for depictions with “serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value.” Stevens claimed his videos were educational.
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