Probation revoked for Dudley, Mo., man accused of dogfighting

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. — A Dudley, Mo., man had his probation revoked today as a result of dogfighting and drug possession charges filed against him in October.

Jamie D. Sifford, 29, appeared today before a judge in Stoddard County to decide whether or not to revoke his probation after an October raid on his Dudley property. Police allege they found evidence of dogfighting and drugs at Sifford's property near Dudley during the raid.

The judge today ruled that there was a "preponderance of evidence" that Sifford had hosted dogfighting and possessed illegal drugs at his home. Sifford hasn't been found guilty on any charges related to the October raid, but probation revocation doesn't require the tougher "reasonable doubt" standard needed to convict someone of a crime. 

Last month charges were dropped against another man allegedly involved in dogfighting at Sifford's home, Curtis Pickering, 29, of South Fulton, Tenn., after Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn dismissed the case against him.

At the time, Welborn said he dropped charges against Pickering to focus on the case against Sifford.

Jessey Short, 30, of Cape Girardeau, is set to appear in court later this month on five counts of dogfighting.

Sifford still faces 19 felonies of dogfighting, three counts of possession of controlled substances and two counts of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia in Stoddard County.

A sentencing hearing for his probation revocation is set for July 16. Sifford faces the possibility of 7 years in prison for violating his probation