No charges for Fresno man after posting dogfight video to Facebook

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- No charges filed against a Fresno man who videotaped a dogfight in his front yard and cheered on his pit bulls as they attacked a smaller dog.

William Weir has been cleared of all criminal wrongdoing, in a felony case that exposed him to up to 10 years in prison. The district attorney's office determined there is not enough evidence to warrant charges. The deputy district attorney on this case said William Weir isn't responsible for other dogs who wandered onto his property.

The dogs have been quarantined since November, when Fresno police seized them and arrested their owner, William Weir. He was taken to jail on allegations of dogfighting and animal abuse.

Weir said, "There was never no evidence from the beginning."

After an investigation, the district attorney's office decided no charges are warranted in the case that generated outrage among many Valley residents.

Weir posted the evidence on Facebook that helped police investigate the mauling. But, according to the district attorney the case against Weir fell short of a crime because it requires maiming, mutilating, torturing, or wounding an animal, and acting maliciously. The spokesperson for the Central California SPCA says he is disappointed in this conclusion.

Walter Salvari said, "We're very passionate about animals and making sure that people don't do things morally questionable and with this situation here, it does raise a lot of red flags when you hear things on video."

Weir says he regrets comments he made that day when he encouraged the dogfight. He says he has received death threats as a result.

"What I did was a mistake, but there's not one person walking on this earth that hasn't made a mistake and a bad decision," said Weir.

The deputy district attorney who denied the case used an analogy to explain his reasoning. He wrote, "Say a parent is dining with an adult son. The adult son, unprovoked, attacks and assaults another patron, injuring them severely. While the parent would have a moral obligation to intervene, they would not have a legal obligation to do so. The same analogy applies here."

Weir wants his dogs back, and is hoping they will be returned soon. The SPCA said administrators decided since no charges were filed, they would waive the boarding fees. But Weir will have to pay $200 for licenses and updated shots.