Friday, July 16, 2010

New Jersey: Barry Norman and others accused of dog fighting offered plea deal

NEW JERSEY -- Plea offers are on the table for five people accused of dog fighting in South Bound Brook, but there is a key condition.

All of them have to take the deal, or no one gets it, Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hawkes said.

The offers were discussed briefly today after the defense lawyers entered not-guilty pleas for their clients during their arraignment before Superior Court Judge John Pursel in Somerville.

The charges stem from the discovery police made on March 7 at a dwelling on Edgewood Terrace, where police found trappings of the blood sport, including a blood-stained fighting ring and five injured pit bulls. The dogs were later euthanized, the state says.


Artamas Miller, 40, of Forks Township, Pa.; Barry Norman, 28, of South Bound Brook; Armin Spann, 32, of North Plainfield; Mylyn Robinson, 28, of Somerville; and Kaysona Miller, 27, of South Bound Brook, are charged with third-degree animal fighting and animal cruelty. Artamas Miller is also charged with fourth-degree criminal trespass. All but Kaysona Miller appeared with their respective attorneys: Joseph Depa, Steven Lieberman, Richard Carlson and David Meiswinkle.

Kaysona Miller, who rented the home on Edgewood Terrace, is additionally charged with a disorderly persons offense for obstructing the administration of law. Defense lawyer Cedric Ashley said his client is incarcerated and he waived her appearance.

If they accept the deal, Norman would face three years in prison and restitution, Hawkes said. The others would face county jail time, probation, community service, restitution and psychiatric treatment. A conviction could mean up to 10 years in prison. Artamas Miller could face up to 11 ½ years.

(NJ.com - July 16, 2010)

Name: Barry Lorenzo Norman
Mugshots.com ID: 47222784
Race: Black
Ethnicity: Black
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 6′ 0″ (1.83 m)
Weight: 225 lb (102 kg)
Birth date: 8/16/1981
SBI Number: 000502821C
Admission Date: 1/28/2011
Current Facility: Released from KT-SWR
Current Max Release Date: N/A
Current Parole Eligibility Date: N/A
Sentence Information:

Offense date: March 7, 2010
1 count of : 4:22-17*3 Cruelty to animals

Offense date: March 7, 2010
1 count of : 4:22-24*3 Animal Fighting Crimes

Offense date: June 4, 2008
1 count of : 2C:35-5B2*2 CDS/Possessn Heroin/Analog->.5 oz,<5oz/2