Six Gainesville men were indicted by a grand jury Monday on charges of possessing fighting dogs, according to a press release.
The men are suspected of violating the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibits dog fighting. Florida statute says a person who commits animal cruelty on more than one animal will be charged separately for each animal. They were accused with possession of fighting dogs:
- 56-year-old Christopher Eugene Thompson (13 counts)
- 43-year-old Clinton Thomas (12 counts)
- 45-year-old Jarrett Abram Severance (6 counts)
- 25-year-old Jarrett Abram Severance Jr. (11 counts)
- 24-year-old Taureen Jaquan Servance (11 counts)
- 44-year-old Terry Lajace Lee (charge count unknown)
The penalty for each count charged is a maximum of five years in prison.
According to the press release, the case was investigated by the Gainesville Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, Alachua County Animal Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General — an independent watchdog agency that investigates cases related to federal animal welfare laws.
The press release states there is no evidence of guilt, and the indictments are allegations made by a grand jury. All men are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial.
A joint jury trial for the six defendants is scheduled for Oct. 21 in Gainesville.
Contact Teia Williams at twilliams@alligator.org. Follow her on X @teia_williams.
Teia Williams is a journalism senior at UF and the Fall 2026 criminal justice reporter. This is her fourth semester with The Alligator. If she isn't writing an article, you can find her a concert, reading a book or somewhere soaking up the sun.
