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Hampton man denied bond for charges related to 21 dogs found dead in a home

Posted at 8:42 AM, Apr 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-07 17:16:37-04

Vernon Silver

HAMPTON, Va . - A Hampton judge denied bond for the man arrested on 65 animal cruelty charges for 21 dogs found dead inside a home in March.

Vernon Silver appeared in court for a bond hearing Friday morning.

Silver was arrested on March 9 after animal control conducted a search at a home on Pochin Place and at his personal home on Abbey Court.

One pit bull was found alive in the Pochin Place home and is now at the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter.

Court documents show that the 21 other pit bulls were found severely decomposed. Officers also found various types of dog-fighting paraphernalia.

Silver and his attorneys fought for a bond this morning, arguing he has a medical condition and being incarcerated makes it worse.

Prosecutors argued that Silver has a history of animal cruelty charges and several convictions.

Ultimately the judge ruled that Silver is a danger to the community and he was denied bond.

Commonwealth's Attorney Anton Bell told News 3 his office is taking this case very seriously.

"If you can abuse an animal to a degree that the allegations seem to point to, then you are a danger to our community," he says. "We intend to prosecute this case very aggressively."

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